Guinness drinkers floored after discovering true meaning of brand's logo

Daily Record

26-04-2025

Each year, approximately 1.8 billion pints of Guinness are consumed globally. To give you an idea, stout enthusiasts are downing over 10 million glasses of the black brew daily. Despite many of us savouring the flavour of the dark elixir – made up of four primary ingredients - water, barley, hops and yeast – there's still intriguing trivia about the company that people are discovering. This includes facts about the iconic harp logo recognised in nations across the globe. So, did you know this entertaining piece of alcohol trivia? It's a fun fact to ponder on your next pub visit with friends. So here's all you need to know about the Guinness logo that's been around for 163 years and counting. The history behind it extends far beyond just being part of the beverage's emblem. The logo is inspired by a renowned Irish harp from the 14th century known as the O'Neill or Brian Boru harp. This can now be viewed at the Library of Trinity College Dublin – attracting hundreds of visitors each day. This is because the ancient artefact is one of the oldest surviving Gaelic harps worldwide. However, there's a significant difference between the harps seen in the library and on Guinness products. They are mirror images facing opposite directions. This is due to the Irish government adopting the harp as its official emblem in 1922, leading Guinness to modify its own design to prevent confusion. It has been reimagined several times – the current incarnation features "sharper, more detailed features". Mark Sandys, Diageo Global Head of Beer and Baileys, commented: "The Guinness harp was originally based on the legendary 'Brian Boru harp', a powerful symbol of Ireland's national identity and heritage. "In keeping with the Guinness 'Made of More' ethos, we have reintroduced a special handmade quality to the harp to reflect the experience, craftsmanship and passion that we put into brewing our Guinness beers." For those who've never paid much attention, they may have only just found out an interesting tidbit about the Guinness logo. On social media platform X, one user posted: "How am I just noticing that Guinness logo is a harp?" Another pondered: "Am I the only one that is just realising that the Guinness logo is a harp? I seriously thought it was just a weirdly bent piece of gold." The piece of booze knowledge has left people floored. You really do learn something new every day!