Erin go Braghis an anglicisation of the phraseÉirinn go Bráchin theIrish language.[2]
Thestandard versionin Irish isÉire go Brách,which is pronounced[ˈeːɾʲəɡəˈbˠɾˠaːx].Some uses of the phrase will useÉirinn,which survives as thedativeform in the modern standard form of Irish and is the source of the poetic form,Erin.[3][4]
The termbráchis equivalent to "eternity" or "end of time", meaning the phrase may be translated literally as "Ireland until eternity" or "Ireland to the end (of time)".Éire go Bráth(orÉirinn go Bráth) is also used in Irish and means the same thing.Gois a preposition, translatable as "to", "till/until", "up to".
In 1847 a group of Irish volunteers, including U.S. Army deserters, joined the Mexican side in theMexican–American War.These soldiers, known asLos San PatriciosorSaint Patrick's Battalion,flew as their standard a green flag with a harp and the mottoErin Go Bragh.[6][7]Similar flag designs have been used at different times to express Irish nationalism.[8]
In 1862, when a large number of families on the estate ofLord Digby,nearTullamore,County Offaly,were given notice to quit, a local priest, Father Paddy Dunne, arranged passage for 400 people to Australia. A ship was chartered from theBlack Ball Lineand named theErin-go-Bragh.[9]The voyage of theErin-go-Bragh,a "crazy, leaky tub", took 196 days, the longest recorded passage to Australia.[10]A passenger nicknamed the ship the "Erin-go-Slow", but eventually it landed inMoreton BaynearBrisbane.[11]
ApubinSydney,Australia, in the 19th century that catered to Irish immigrants was calledThe Erin-Go-Bragh.[12]
In the late 19th century, the EdinburghfootballclubHibernian F.C.adoptedErin Go Braghas their motto[14]and it adorned their shirts accordingly. Founded in 1875 by Edinburgh Irishmen and the local Catholic Church, St Patrick's, the club's shirts included a gold harp set on a green background. The flag can still be seen at a lot of Hibernian matches to this day.
In 1906, three Irishmen went to Athens, Greece to compete in the1906 Intercalated Olympicsas an Irish team independent of Britain. They had distinct uniforms and intended to compete for the first time as representatives of their own country. Once in Athens, the Irishmen became aware that the British committee had decided that they would instead compete under the British flag.Peter O'Connorwon the silver medal for the long jump. As he was about to receive his medal he rushed towards the flag pole, climbed the pole, and flew the Erin Go Bragh flag, as the Tricolour had not yet received widespread acceptance. The other Irish athletes and a number of Irish-American athletes fended off security for a few minutes while the flag was flown. It was the first time an Irish flag had been flown at a sporting event.[15]
Mother and child with an "Erin Go Bragh" banner during aSaint Patrick's DayParade in New York, 1951
A traditional Scottish song from the 19th century entitled "Erin-go-Bragh" tells the story of aHighland Scotwho is mistaken for an Irishman. The first two verses[16]are:
My name's Duncan Campbell from the shire ofArgyll
I've travelled this country for many's the mile
I've travelled through Ireland, Scotland and a'
And the name I go under's bold Erin-go-bragh
One night inAuld Reekieas I walked down the street
A saucy big polis I chanced for to meet
He glowered in my face and he gi'ed me some jaw
Sayin' "When cam' ye over, bold Erin-go-bragh?"
Art from the 106th annual banquet of theFriendly Sons of St. PatrickIn 1969, the bandThe Wolfe Tonesreleased a song called "Erin Go Bragh" on their LPRifles of the I.R.A..The song tells of the Easter Rising in Dublin, with all 6 verses ending with "Erin Go Bragh".
^"Tacubaya, August 27, 1847".The Politician and Weekly Nashville Whig.27 August 1847.The banner is of green silk, and on one side is a harp, surmounted by the Mexican coat of arms [..] Underneath the harp is the motto 'Erin go Bragh'
^Hayes-McCoy, Gerard Anthony (1979).A history of Irish flags from earliest times.Academy Press. pp. 120–125.ISBN9780906187012.
^Hogan, James Francis (1888). "Chapter 8".The Irish in Australia.Melbourne: George Robertson & Co. pp. 156–158.Retrieved22 May2014.
