Notre Dame Irish Mascot: The Notre Dame Irish mascot is an important symbol of the University of Notre Dame, a private Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States. The mascot is a fictional character named "The Fighting Irishman," who represents the Irish heritage of the university and its sports teams. The origins of the Irish mascot can be traced back to the late 19th century when Notre Dame's athletic teams were struggling for recognition and success. In an effort to establish a unique identity, the university adopted the nickname "The Fighting Irish," which was inspired by the Irish ancestry of many of its students and faculty. Since then, the Irish mascot has become synonymous with Notre Dame athletics, particularly its football program. The mascot characterizes the spirit and resilience of the university's athletes, who are known for their toughness and determination on the field.

What's in a Name

When Irish freedom fighter Éamon de Valera came to America in 1919 to gather money and hearts to his cause, the first stop was Boston’s Fenway Park, where a political rally of nearly 60,000 people still holds the venerable stadium’s all-time attendance record.

"The language you use here, the ‘Fighting Irish’ … what we actually mean mostly when we talk about it is an indomitable spirit, a commitment, never tentative, always fully committed, to life itself … that's really the spirit of the Fighting Irish."

Nearly a century later, when the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame descended on Fenway Park in November 2015, it was time to explore how a university founded in a northern Indiana wilderness by a French priest came by its nickname.

Surprisingly, one theory traces back to the visit from de Valera, who had been part of the 1916 Easter Rising and was imprisoned and sentenced to death. He was given amnesty, elected to Parliament and arrested by the English again. He escaped and slipped off to America to avoid recapture.

Barnstorming the country, the future president of Ireland was welcomed as a hero at Notre Dame on October 15, 1919. Accounts in Scholastic, a student publication, indicate that his visit tilted campus opinion in favor of the “Fighting Irish” moniker — though not completely. De Valera planted a “tree of liberty” as a memorial of his visit — only to have it uprooted a week later and thrown in one of the campus lakes by a student “of Unionist persuasion.”

That’s one story anyway. Actually, no one really knows for sure how Notre Dame became universally linked with the Irish. All we have is conjecture. But that’s the Irish way, isn’t it? Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.

It’s true that four of the six religious who founded Notre Dame in 1842 with French priest Edward Sorin were Irish; that nearly all of Fr. Sorin’s successors claim Irish descent; and that the student body has always had a strong Irish presence.

The Fighting Irish nickname was first coined for the Irish immigrant soldiers who fought for the Union during the Civil War in what became called the Irish Brigade, including three regiments from New York. Their valor was later memorialized in the poetry of Joyce Kilmer. That’s also the Irish way: Ireland’s poetry is often better than its fighting, turning defeat into eternal glory. The University has a valid claim to the nickname because the brigade’s beloved chaplain was Rev. William Corby, C.S.C., who later became the third president of Notre Dame.

The first use of the nickname “Fighting Irish” for Notre Dame sports teams may have been in 1909, when legend says that a player’s speech at the halftime of a football game against Michigan inspired a furious comeback. He reportedly yelled to his teammates — with names like Dolan, Kelly, Glynn and Ryan: “What’s the matter with you guys? You’re all Irish and you’re not fighting worth a lick.” The news reports that picked up the story attributed the victory to the Fighting Irishmen.

Fr. Corby giving general absolution to the Irish Brigade before the Battle of Gettysburg. This painting was completed in 1891 by Paul Wood, a Notre Dame student at the time.

According to historian and author Murray Sperber, the most widely accepted explanation of how the nickname settled on Notre Dame sports teams is more gradual but still dramatic. During the 1910s and 1920s, stereotypes and ethnic slurs were openly expressed against immigrants, Catholics and the Irish. The press often referred to Notre Dame teams as the Catholics — or worse, the Papists or Dirty Irish — because the school was largely populated by ethnic Catholic immigrants, many of them Irish. University leaders bristled at such descriptions, and school publications called the team the Gold and Blue or the Notre Damers.

This was also the Knute Rockne era, when the Notre Dame football team first put the small private school on the national map. Rockne’s teams were often called the Rovers or the Ramblers because they traveled far and wide, an uncommon practice before the advent of commercial airplanes. These names were also an insult to the school, meant to suggest it was more focused on football than academics.

Rockne may have been Norwegian, but he had the Irish flair for storytelling and drama. A natural salesman, he hired student press agents to tell the team’s story. Some of them began using the “Fighting Irish” nickname to characterize the underdog tenacity of his teams. They found a way to turn the derisive taunt, with its suggestion of drunken brawling, into an expression of triumph. Some students came to cherish the nickname. By owning the epithet, they transformed it into a symbol of pride. In the 1960s, the same process would be repeated for the leprechaun, which had traditionally been an English caricature of the Irish. Now, it’s the team mascot.

Knute Rockne buying a copy of Collier’s, for which he wrote a series of articles in 1930.

Still, the nickname “Fighting Irish” was embraced by some and opposed by others by the time de Valera visited Fenway and Notre Dame. In a 1919 Scholastic issue, a letter appeared from an alumnus who criticized the nickname because many players were not of Irish descent. Others rushed to defend the phrase, with one alum writing, “You don’t have to be from Ireland to be Irish!”

In the early 1920s, the press began to pick up the “Fighting Irish” nickname to characterize the never-say-die spirit of Rockne’s teams. One of Rockne’s former press agents, Francis Wallace, popularized the term when he became a columnist for the New York Daily News.

A little-known event occurring in 1924 may have inadvertently contributed to Fighting Irish lore. In a recent book, alumnus Todd Tucker describes how Notre Dame students violently clashed with the anti-Catholic Ku Klux Klan in that year. A weekend of riots drove the Klan out of South Bend and helped bring an end to its rising power in Indiana at a time when the state’s governor was among its members.

Finally in 1927, university president Rev. Matthew Walsh, C.S.C., decided that the “Fighting Irish” was preferable to the school’s more derisive nicknames. He said in a statement, “The university authorities are in no way averse to the name ‘Fighting Irish’ as applied to our athletic teams… I sincerely hope that we may always be worthy of the ideal embodied in the term ‘Fighting Irish.’”

Today, Notre Dame has the Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies, with distinguished scholars of Irish language, literature, history and society. Notre Dame has an international study program in Ireland, and the campus is the largest center for the study of the Irish language outside Dublin. Above all, Notre Dame was shaped, and is still influenced, by the resiliency and deep thirst for learning of the Irish people.

That ideal was eloquently described by Ireland’s President Mary McAleese at Notre Dame’s Commencement in 2006:

"The language you use here, the ‘Fighting Irish’ … what we actually mean mostly when we talk about it is an indomitable spirit, a commitment, never tentative, always fully committed, to life itself … that's really the spirit of the Fighting Irish."

Notre Dame defends Leprechaun after it is ranked among most offensive mascots

Notre Dame’s Leprechaun, played by Samuel Jackson, leads the Fighting Irish on to the field before a football game against USC on Oct. 12, 2019, in South Bend, Ind.

Notre Dame is offended.

Being called offensive.

Participants in a survey published Wednesday on the Quality Logo Products Blog ranked the Fighting Irish Leprechaun as the fourth most offensive college mascot in the country, behind Florida State’s Osceola and Renegade, San Diego State’s Aztec Warrior and Hawaii’s Vili the Warrior (who was never an official mascot and is no longer affiliated with the school).

In a statement to the Indianapolis Star regarding the survey, Notre Dame expressed displeasure with being associated with those teams and others like them.

“It is worth noting . that there is no comparison between Notre Dame’s nickname and mascot and the Indian and warrior names [and] mascots used by other institutions such as the NFL team formerly known as the Redskins,” the school stated. “None of these institutions were founded or named by Native Americans who sought to highlight their heritage by using names and symbols associated with their people.”

The statement added: “Irish-Americans — including those at Notre Dame — again have turned back on former oppressors as a sign of celebration and triumph. In both the upraised fists of the leprechaun mascot and the use of the word ‘fighting,’ the intent is to recognize the determination of the Irish people and, symbolically, the university’s athletes.”

But some people think the Leprechaun should be given the same treatment as other controversial mascots, such as those depicting Native Americans.

“Many Irish-Americans are not offended, but many are,” ESPN’s Max Kellerman told the Wall Street Journal in 2018. “Should that also change? The answer is yes! Unequivocally yes. Pernicious, negative stereotypes of marginalized people that offend, even some among them, should be changed.”

Pro sports teams are starting to get rid of racist names. Hundreds of U.S. high schools still have them

According to Notre Dame’s website, no one knows exactly how the Fighting Irish nickname came about. While acknowledging “the term likely began as an abusive expression tauntingly directed toward the athletes,” the site states that “the most generally accepted explanation is that the press coined the nickname as a characterization of Notre Dame athletic teams, their never-say-die fighting spirit and the Irish qualities of grit, determination and tenacity.”

The website also states that the Leprechaun became the official mascot in 1965 “in keeping with the nickname Fighting Irish and the Irish folklore.”

The online survey asked 1,266 people around the country to evaluate 128 mascots.

Why is Notre Dame Irish? Ireland game, mascot name, explained

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are playing in Ireland in Week 0, but why exactly is the Catholic university tied to the European country?

By Cody Williams | Aug 24, 2023

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish will play the first game of the 2023 college football season in Week 0, renewing a rivalry with the Navy Midshipmen. More importantly, though, the game will be played in Dublin, Ireland for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic.

This matchup, which is the third time that these two programs will have met in Ireland, is actually a rescheduled meeting between the teams from the COVID-altered and shortened 2020 college football season that prevented them from traveling overseas. But now they'll play in 2023 with a 2:30 p.m. ET kickoff -- or a night game in Dublin.

Given that Notre Dame's mascot and nickname is the Fighting Irish, it stands to reason why they would be playing in Ireland for the third time. However, that doesn't answer a simple question: Why is Notre Dame Irish? Where did this nickname and the background come from?

If you're wondering that same question while watching Marcus Freeman's team in Dublin, we have you covered.

The mascot characterizes the spirit and resilience of the university's athletes, who are known for their toughness and determination on the field. The Fighting Irishman is depicted as a leprechaun, a mythical Irish fairy, dressed in traditional green attire, including a hat, jacket, and pants. He carries a shillelagh, a wooden walking stick symbolizing strength and protection.

Why is Notre Dame Irish? Ireland game, mascot name, explained

The simplest answer is that there aren't any certain reasons why Notre Dame became so closely associated with the Irish or Ireland. Perhaps it all began in 1842 when the university was founded by six Catholic priests, four of whom were Irish.

As noted by Notre Dame's official website, the "Fighting Irish" moniker was originally used to describe Union soldiers in the Civil War who were Irish immigrants. As for the school's athletics teams, though, there are many theories about when they became known as the Fighting Irish.

The university highlighted one legend that dates back to a 1909 football game against longtime rival Michigan in which a player said "What's the matter with you guys? You're all Irish and you're not fighting worth a lick" to his Irish teammates during a halftime speech.

But the university also purported another theory from historian Murray Sperber that the name spawned from newspapers in the 1910s and 1920s referring to sports teams as "the Catholics" or even derogatory terms like the "Dirty Irish" given the university's high population of Irish Catholic immigrants.

Legendary head coach Knute Rockne may have had the most to do with the "Fighting Irish" nickname catching on, however. Though he wasn't Irish himself, the stereotypes about the student population and players on the football and other athletic teams along with press agents writing about the team began calling them the "Fighting Irish" due to their spirited underdog fight that was shown on the field of play under Rockne. Once derogatory, students, fans and players began to eventually embrace it as their own.

So that's the story, from the university itself and it's history. There are several other minor turns along the way but, since about 1927 when it was officially deemed as the preferable nickname among the many at the time, Notre Dame has been connected to the Irish and has embraced it. It's certainly not a direct tie to Dublin, by any means, but it's the true origins nonetheless.

Next. CFB Rankings: FanSided preseason Top 25. College Football Rankings: FanSided preseason Top 25. dark

Notre Dame Football: How the Leprechaun Would Destroy Every Mascot on the 2022 Schedule

A wise soul once told me that being Irish means you always fight for that in which you believe. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish leprechaun mascot captures that exact tenacious spirit. Despite the pandemic, bowl game stumbles, and the initial drama of the recent changing of the guard, the leprechaun stands ready to fight no matter who may come his way. Here’s how he’d completely trash every opposing mascot this season.

The leprechaun mascot also wears a distinctive gold belt emblazoned with the letters "ND," representing the university's initials. The mascot's appearance has evolved over the years, with the design reflecting changes in popular culture and artistic styles. However, the essence of the Irish mascot and its connection to Notre Dame's Irish heritage remains unchanged. The Irish mascot is an integral part of Notre Dame's traditions and game day experience. The leprechaun can be seen leading cheers, interacting with fans, and energizing the crowd during sporting events. Its lively and charismatic presence adds to the overall excitement and atmosphere of the games. Overall, the Notre Dame Irish mascot serves as a symbol of pride, tradition, and unity for the university and its supporters. It represents the rich history and cultural heritage of Notre Dame and embodies the values of strength, determination, and spirited competition that define the university's athletic programs..

Reviews for "The Notre Dame Irish Mascot: Uniting Fans Across Generations"

- Mary Johnson - 1 star - I found the Notre Dame Irish mascot to be offensive and inappropriate. As an Irish person, I feel that it perpetuates negative stereotypes and mocks our culture. The leprechaun costume, with its exaggerated features and antics during games, only serves to further demean the Irish community. It's disappointing to see such a prestigious university resort to such insensitive and ignorant representation.

- Mark Thompson - 2 stars - While I understand the historical significance of the Notre Dame Irish mascot, I can't help but find it cliché and outdated. The leprechaun character feels like a caricature and doesn't accurately represent the diversity and complexities of the Irish culture. It's time for Notre Dame to reconsider their mascot and find a more respectful and inclusive symbol for their sports teams.

- Sarah O'Sullivan - 1 star - I cringed every time the Notre Dame Irish mascot appeared during games. The portrayal of the leprechaun is offensive and reinforces harmful stereotypes. As an Irish American, I find it frustrating to see my heritage reduced to a mascot for entertainment purposes. It's time for Notre Dame to retire this mascot and find a more respectful way to represent their team.

Debunking Myths and Misconceptions about the Notre Dame Irish Mascot