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Why is the harp a national symbol of Ireland?

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Koto — stringed instrument A Japanese musician plucking the strings of a koto with the right hand to generate a pitch and pressing the strings with the left hand to alter the tone.

The harp is considered a national symbol of Ireland because of its deep historical and cultural significance within Celtic society. By the medieval period, the harp was established as the chief musical instrument of the region, and it was famously regarded as one of the three essential items for a comfortable household, alongside a virtuous wife and a chair cushion.12

The instrument's status as a symbol is rooted in its long-standing presence in Irish folklore, legend, and heraldry. As early as the 15th century, a gold harp on a blue field was used as an Irish flag, and a similar design—a golden harp on a green background—was later associated with the province of Leinster and widely recognized as a symbol of Ireland even during periods of English rule. Today, the harp remains a potent emblem of Irish identity and serves as the official presidential standard of Ireland.3