Raglan Road Irish Pub - Kansas City

So what’s that symbol in our logo? The short story is, it’s a triskele, a symbol composed of three interlocking spirals – it reflects the ancient Celtic concept of the interrelations between the earth, water and sky. So the Raglan Road logo represents the essence of Ireland – land, water and life. Now, here’s the unabridged version:

The Raglan Road logo was inspired by designs drawn by the Celts in Ireland dating back to 600 BC. Triskeles are some of the most common elements of Celtic art and they’re found in a variety of styles in both ancient and modern works, especially in relation to depictions of the Mother Goddess. The symbol also suggests reincarnation – it’s drawn in one continuous line, suggesting a continuous movement of time. See?

The spiral is probably the oldest symbol of human spirituality, and has a direct correlation with the movement of the sun, which makes a spiral shape every three months in its travels. A triple spiral motif found on Celtic tombs is drawn unicursally (that is, in one continuous line), suggesting a cycle of rebirth or resurrection. (This hypothesis is bolstered by the fact that many of these appear to be deliberately placed where they catch the first rays of the sun on the solstice). It’s all very heady stuff, and like most things Irish, a good reason to have another pint.

Before it became the name of our establishment, Raglan Road became a song – a collaboration of sorts, which combined Patrick Kavanagh’s poem, Dark Haired Miriam Ran Away, with the traditional Irish air, The Dawning of the Day. The man who put it all together was none other than the great Luke Kelly of the Dubliners.

Since the 1960s, when Raglan Road was first recorded, many an Irish musician, including Van Morrison, Mark Knopfler, Billy Bragg, Sinead O’Connor and our own house band, Tusker Rock, have covered it. Come by some night and ask the lads to play it for you. You’ll understand.

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