St. Patrick’s Day is Sunday, March 17
“The Luck of the Irish” is probably a saying you’ve heard time and time again, most likely either around St. Patrick’s Day or to do with a sports team such as the Boston Celtics or Notre Dame.
You probably thought the meaning has something to do with the extreme good fortune of the people of Ireland but originally the “Irish phrase” had a different connotation.
The term “Luck of the Irish” might not be Irish after all
According to Edward T. O’Donnell, an Associate Professor of History at Holy Cross College and author of “1001 Things Everyone Should Know About Irish American History,” the term is not Irish in origin.
The word luck itself is Middle Dutch in origin, according to Mental Floss. The word comes from ‘luc,’ a shortening of ‘gheluc,’ meaning “happiness, good fortune.
“During the gold and silver rush years in the second half of the 19th century, a number of the most famous and successful miners were of Irish and Irish American birth….Over time this association of the Irish with mining fortunes led to the expression ‘luck of the Irish.’ Of course, it carried with it a certain tone of derision, as if to say, only by sheer luck, as opposed to brains, could these fools succeed.”
The word luck itself is Middle Dutch in origin, according to Mental Floss. The word comes from ‘luc,’ a shortening of ‘gheluc,’ meaning “happiness, good fortune.”
The word was probably introduced into the English language in the 15th century as a gambling term.
In summary, the phrase “The luck of the Irish,” commonly linked with St. Patrick’s Day and sports teams, may have roots in the success of Irish miners during the 19th-century American gold rush. Contrary to its apparent positive connotation, the expression carries a tone of derision, implying that their achievements were more luck than skill. Understanding its historical ties to mining and its later use as a gambling term provides a unique perspective as we approach St. Patrick’s Day.
