Irish

The term Irish refers to wizards and witches originating from Ireland. In the wizarding world, the Irish are most renowned for their formidable prowess in Quidditch, most notably their victory at the 422nd Quidditch World Cup in 1994. The most prominent Irish character featured throughout the series is Hogwarts student Seamus Finnigan. The Irish magical community is characterized by its passionate support for its national team, its use of the Leprechaun as a mascot, and the shamrock as a national symbol.

The primary appearance of the Irish as a collective group occurs during the events of the 1994 Quidditch World Cup. The Irish National Quidditch Team advanced to the final, where they faced the Bulgarian National Quidditch Team in a spectacular and fiercely contested match on the Dartmoor Top Box. The Irish team, dressed in green robes, demonstrated superior teamwork, particularly among their Chasers. Despite the incredible skill of the Bulgarian Seeker, Viktor Krum, the Irish strategy of building an insurmountable lead before capturing the Golden Snitch proved successful. The Irish Chasers—Troy, Mullet, and Moran—employed the Hawkshead Attacking Formation to great effect, overwhelming the Bulgarian Keeper. The match concluded when Viktor Krum caught the Golden Snitch, earning Bulgaria 150 points. However, the Irish were already leading by 160 points, resulting in a final score of 170-160 and a historic victory for Ireland. The victory celebration was immense, marked by fireworks and the jubilant flight of their Leprechaun mascots.

Irish wizards and witches, particularly supporters of their Quidditch team, are depicted as boisterous, passionate, and festively dressed. At the Quidditch World Cup, their fans were a “seething mass of green” and many had shamrocks painted on their faces. Seamus Finnigan and his mother, for example, wore large green rosettes. A stereotype of the Irish being argumentative is mentioned by Phineas Nigellus Black when he describes two portraits of former Healers at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries—including that of Dilys Derwent—bickering “like a pair of mad old Irishmen.”

The Irish are best known for their exceptional Quidditch skills. The 1994 champion team was comprised of highly skilled individuals who worked seamlessly as a unit.

• Chasers: Troy, Mullet, and Moran were a formidable trio, scoring sixteen goals against Bulgaria and flawlessly executing complex offensive manoeuvres like the Hawkshead Attacking Formation.
• Beaters: Quigley and Connolly were described as being very effective, protecting their teammates with skill.
• Keeper: Barry Ryan was a solid Keeper who guarded the three tall goal hoops with great agility.
• Seeker: Aidan Lynch, the Irish Seeker, was a skilled flyer who held his own against the world-class Viktor Krum, though he ultimately crashed through the ground after a failed attempt to catch the Snitch.

• Mascots: The official mascot for the Irish National Quidditch Team is the Leprechaun. During the Quidditch World Cup, a large formation of them created a glittering, dancing rainbow and a giant shamrock.
• Leprechaun Gold: After scoring, the Irish Leprechauns would shower the crowd with large gold coins. This gold, however, is a magical substance that vanishes after a few hours, a fact that cost Ron Weasley a lost bet with Ludo Bagman.
• Team Robes: The Irish team wears emerald green robes, often adorned with a shamrock symbol.
• Wands: Seamus Finnigan's family history suggests a connection to powerful magic, as his mother, a witch, did not reveal her nature to his Muggle father until after they were married.

• Bulgarian National Quidditch Team: The Irish team's primary rivals during the 1994 Quidditch World Cup. The relationship was one of intense, but professional, sporting competition.
• Supporters: The Irish have legions of devoted fans, including Seamus Finnigan and his mother. Their support was instrumental in creating the vibrant atmosphere at the World Cup final.
• Ludo Bagman: The Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports had extensive betting relationships with many attendees, including Fred and George Weasley, who bet on an Irish win but with Krum catching the Snitch.

The term Irish is the demonym for the people and culture of Ireland (Éire in the native Irish language), an island in the North Atlantic. The use of the shamrock and the Leprechaun are direct references to real-world Irish folklore and national symbols.

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the Irish team's victory is shown with a large firework display that forms a dancing Leprechaun. The film also depicts Aidan Lynch as being considerably older than described in the book.
• Writings on Pottermore reveal more about the history of magic in Ireland, stating that the pure-blood Gaunt family originated there before moving to England. Isolt Sayre's aunt, Gormlaith Gaunt, was a resident of the Irish valley of Coomcallee (Pottermore).
• The famous witch Morrigan, a prominent figure from Irish mythology, is featured on a Chocolate Frog Card (Pottermore).