What's Behind the Luck of the Irish?

“Wherever you go, whatever you do, may the luck of the Irish be there with you!

”You’ll probably hear this blessing many times today as the world celebrates St. Patrick’s Day. As someone with Irish roots, I’ve uttered it many times and have to say there’s something to it!

The phrase dates to the Gold Rush, when Irish miners struck it rich in America’s gold and silver mines. Back then, it wasn’t meant as a compliment; it implied their success was blind luck rather than based on skill or hard work.

Lately, however, the luck of the Irish is merely a wish of good fortune, especially around St. Patrick’s Day, when we see four-leaf clovers, leprechauns, and pots of gold everywhere. While those symbols come from Irish folklore, they’ve taken on a universal meaning of luck.

What's behind the connection between luck and the Irish? To me, it's not about chance but rather the Irish spirit that’s rooted in optimism, resilience, and genuine friendliness. These qualities turn the idea of luck into reality and serve as a lesson for everyone, whether you’re Irish or not.

A personal story with Irish luck

Let me share a story to illustrate my point. After college, I took a job running a home for boys. It wasn’t the best-paying job, but it gave me chances to connect with people and make a difference in ways big and small.

To further support my young family, I took on extra work. I flipped houses — buying, renovating, and selling them, always hoping the final price was higher than what I had put into it. I also worked nights and weekends as a bartender, which gave me yet another way to meet people.

One night, as I was closing the bar, a regular came in and we got to talking. He mentioned he was selling his flower shop across the street. To keep the conversation going, I asked how much. “$10,000,” he said. As it happened, that was the exact amount I had just earned from a house-flipping project.

I knew the role that flower shop played in the community, and I had a hunch it could become something special. Turns out, it did. That was the start of 1-800-Flowers.com, though it didn’t get that name until a few years later, after many more twists and turns.

Was it the luck of the Irish? Maybe. Or perhaps it was the good fortune that comes from an optimistic way of looking at the world. And, just maybe, it all started because — like so many with Irish roots — I just can’t stop talking.

Playing in traffic

You have to create your own luck. Or, as a friend of mine puts it more boldly: “It’s amazing how much happens when you’re out there playing in traffic. Just go play in traffic,” says Joseph Plumeri, former CEO of Willis Group Holdings. “Stay busy, stay aware — opportunity is always unfolding around you.”

Looking back on my life, I can’t help but smile at how much I’ve lived by this idea. If you don’t put yourself out there by making connections, starting conversations, or taking chances, you’ll miss out on opportunities and the potential for good fortune.

These qualities are often associated with the Irish, like myself, but they’re not exclusive to those with ties to the Emerald Isle. That so-called "gift of the gab?” It’s more than just a knack for conversation and turning life’s ups and downs into stories that bring people together. You see it in Irish literary giants like James Joyce and Oscar Wilde, but also around dinner tables, in pubs, and in the way strangers are welcomed as friends.\

At the same time, the Irish challenge authority, debate passionately, and embrace change while holding fast to what matters most. That same spirit fuels a love of celebration — music, dance, and the ever-present craic (good times and lively conversation).

Maybe these traits are in Irish DNA, but I believe they’re in all of us to some degree. If you see the world as your playground, the luck of the Irish just might find you.

The role of resilience and tenacity

Granted, you won’t always find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Nobody knows that better than the Irish. But it’s how they – and you – approach adversity that turns Irish luck into reality. They’ve done it with humor, storytelling, and a belief that things will get better.

History offers no better example than the Great Famine of the 1840s. Faced with starvation and forced migration, millions of Irish endured unimaginable hardship, yet they rebuilt their lives, and many in America, where they became leaders, entrepreneurs, and community builders. What could have been the end of their story instead became the beginning of a new one.

In Lodestar, a book I co-wrote with Dr. George S. Everly Jr., we discovered that resilience often comes down to two key factors: a clear vision for the future — the belief that better days lie ahead — and the tenacity to turn that vision into reality. As I wrote those words, I imagined the hope and determination of my ancestors.

“The luck of the Irish” is a way of life. When you embrace that mindset, good things tend to follow. This St. Patrick’s Day, let’s raise a glass — not just to luck, but to the Irish spirit that keeps finding ways to turn life’s trials into triumphs.

Sláinte,

Jim