The Irish Coat of arms is described as "a harp or, stringed argent, on a field azure." The harp has been used in the coat of arms of Ireland since medieval times. It is depicted alongside the coats of arms of a dozen or more medieval European kingdoms on a single folio of the Wijnbergen roll of arms compiled about 1270. The harp is found on the banners of the Irish brigades, which were formed in the armies of continental European countries during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

The harp today is used as the symbol of the Irish State. It is found in the seals of the President, Taoiseach, T�naiste and Government Ministers and is used on the back of Irish coins including new euro coins minted in Ireland.

The Presidential Standard is a blue flag with the heraldic harp. The model for the artistic representation of the heraldic harp is the 14th century harp now preserved in the Museum of Trinity College Dublin, popularly known as the Brian Boru harp.