• This symbol of Irish heritage creates an excellent tattoo design.shamrock image by Jarek Miarka from Fotolia.com
  
  The clover or shamrock is a symbol long associated with Ireland. This tattoo design can serve to show an affinity with Ireland or an Irish heritage. The clover can be used as a simple design, or it can be elaborated upon and combined with other symbols of Ireland and Celtic heritage to create a larger piece with additional meaning.
  
  

The Clover

• The clover or shamrock itself symbolizes luck and Irish heritage, and for that reason it is a popular choice of tattoo design among Irish and non-Irish alike. Clovers and shamrocks are often confused, but both are so similar as to be practically interchangeable--shamrocks have three leaves, and clover, which is a different plant, can have three or four leaves.
  
  Clover designs can have three or four leaves, with a four-leaf clover symbolizing luck. They can be designed in color or black and white; they can also be stylized or a realistic representation of the plant.
  
  

Knotwork

• Knotwork is another design that can be incorporated into a tattoo design. These intricate pieces of linework are found in Celtic and ancient Irish artwork as well as medieval illuminations. They are found on tombstones, in books and in mosaics, and they stem from variations on Roman interlaced designs.
  
  A popular variation on a plain clover design is to create the clover's outline out of knotwork, or to enclose the clover design within a band of intricate knotwork. This adds a distinctly Celtic flair to a shamrock tattoo.
  
  

Shamrock Elements

• The shamrock or clover also makes an excellent element, which can be added to other tattoo designs to increase and change the meaning. Combining the shamrock or clover with other Irish elements such as the harp of Ireland or the claddagh can add a deeper meaning to an Irish-themed tattoo.
  
  Other elements that may be included with a clover tattoo include the Irish flag, horseshoes for luck or phrases in the Irish language. Adding these elements to a shamrock tattoo will help it to evolve into a larger piece suitable for sleeves, back and leg tattoos in large areas.