The harp is synonymous with Ireland and Irishness and is known all around the globe as one of our national symbols, along with the shamrock, of course.
But have you ever wondered why the harp, the symbol of Ireland, is backwards on your beautiful Irish passport?
Only in Ireland could this happen, that needs to be made clear.
What's the one Irish brand you immediately think of when you think of the harp? Guinness, of course.
And Dublin's favourite stout played a crucial role in the decision to have the harp face backwards on Irish passports.
If you've ever had a lovely pint of the black stuff - maybe not during the current heatwave - you'll likely have noticed how the harp on pint glasses and other Guinness merchandise faces from left to right.
But if you look at your Irish passport you'll notice how it faces the opposite way.
This didn't just happen by accident. If we go back to the 19th century, this was when Guinness took the ingenious step of using the harp as their official emblem.
Given that Ireland is the only country on the planet to have a musical instrument as its national symbol, it was a smart move by the decision-makers at St James Gate.
The harp has also been used by revolutionary groups in Ireland throughout the centuries but it was when the Irish Free State Government came into existence in 1922 that problems arose.
You see, Guinness had already trademarked the harp way back in 1862 and they weren't for budging on letting it be used by the Government of the time.
So, what was the Free State Government to do? Simply, turn the harp around and Bob's your uncle. It has remained like that to this day.
As we said earlier - only in Ireland.
