The Notre Dame Fighting Irish is the official mascot of the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, United States. The Fighting Irish is a symbol that represents the athletic teams of the university, particularly its football team. The origins of this mascot can be traced back to the late 19th century when the media began using the term "the Fighting Irish" to describe the university's football team. The Fighting Irish mascot is a leprechaun, a small mythical creature from Irish folklore. The leprechaun is depicted as a mischievous and energetic character, wearing green clothes, a hat, and carrying a shillelagh, a traditional Irish walking stick. The leprechaun is often seen dancing, cheering, and interacting with the crowd during sporting events.
While Notre Dame endured a fallow period following Leahy's retirement in 1953, the college brought Oklahoma's record-breaking 49-game unbeaten run to a shuddering halt in 1957 with a new Clashmore Mike in attendance.
Leahy reportedly used the terriers to his advantage, training them to run on the field of play to delay a game and earn his team an unofficial timeout. Terry was present at Notre Dame s emphatic victory against Stanford at the Rose Bowl on New Year s Day, 1925, and witnessed three more championship victories in Rockne s last six years at the college.
The leprechaun is often seen dancing, cheering, and interacting with the crowd during sporting events. The choice of the leprechaun as the mascot is believed to have been inspired by the large population of Irish immigrants in the United States at the time. The leprechaun became a symbol of Irish culture and heritage, and the university wanted to embrace its Irish roots by adopting this mascot.
Notre Dame used to have Irish Terriers as their mascots
As controversy once again brews over Notre Dame's divisive Fighting Irish Leprechaun mascot, it is fitting to remember a rather more wholesome mascot that encouraged Notre Dame teams in the first half of the 20th century.
According to researcher Marge Andre, the first Irish Terrier to serve as a mascot at the University of Notre Dame was Tipperary Terrence, who was presented to legendary UND football coach Knute K. Rockne in January 1924.
Sadly, Tipperary Terence was hit by a car and died not long after becoming mascot, giving way to his successor, the aptly named Tipperary Terrence II.
Knute Rockne. (Public Domain / US Library of Congress)
Tipperary Terence II arrived just in time for Notre Dame's compelling 13-7 victory over the Army Cadets in New York on October 18, 1924, and the legend of the Irish terrier was born.
"Terry" was present at Notre Dame's emphatic victory against Stanford at the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day, 1925, and witnessed three more championship victories in Rockne's last six years at the college.
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The tradition of Notre Dame's Irish Terrier continued after Tipperary Terrence. According to Notre Dame Archives, Charles Otis donated Brick Top Shaun Rhue (“Old Red”) to the university - the Irish Terrier was presented to Football Coach Heartley “Hunk” Anderson during the Navy game, which was played in Otis’s hometown of Cleveland on November 19, 1932.
The dog enjoyed a perfect start, witnessing a 60-20 victory over the University of Pennsylvania. However, that was as good as it got for Brick Top Shaun-Rhue, who disappeared in 1933 with Notre Dame struggling with a 3-5-1 record.
— ND Business (@NDBusiness) November 15, 2018#TBT On November 19, 1932, Charles Otis donates an Irish Terrier named Brick Top Shaun Rhue as a mascot for the football team. Shaun Rhue (Irish for “Old Red”) proves a bit of a rambler and disappears from campus altogether the following spring! pic.twitter.com/OA0OQ3Dl2Y
"It is thought that [Shaun Rhue] simply ran away from campus in the spring of 1933," Notre Dame Archives reports. "If so, Shaun Rhue may have never graced the sidelines of Notre Dame Stadium, but the idea of Irish Terriers as Notre Dame’s mascot would persist."
In the fall of 1935, William Butler presented Notre Dame with another Irish Terrier, Clashmore Mike, who would remain at Notre Dame for ten years and garner much publicity.
Clashmore Mike posed for photographs in newspapers and football programs and even had his own sports column in gameday programs.
In fact, every home football program at Notre Dame between 1936 and 1949 featured some sort of photograph, cartoon, or drawing of the Irish terrier mascot as his legend grew.
In a testament to the dog's stature, he was buried underneath the Notre Dame stadium when he died.
In 1935, Clashmore Mike, became the official @NDFootball mascot. Photo: Elmer Layden, Johnny Kelly, and Clashmore Mike. #NationalPuppyDay pic.twitter.com/MKB5ZhHg8h
— ND Business (@NDBusiness) March 23, 2017
Clashmore Mike also witnessed a period of incredible success during his time at Notre Dame and was present for two of the five National Championships won by legendary coach Frank Leahy.
Clashmore Mike II, his successor, witnessed three further championship wins and a 39-game unbeaten record.
Leahy reportedly used the terriers to his advantage, training them to run on the field of play to delay a game and earn his team an unofficial timeout.
While Notre Dame endured a fallow period following Leahy's retirement in 1953, the college brought Oklahoma's record-breaking 49-game unbeaten run to a shuddering halt in 1957 with a new Clashmore Mike in attendance.
Notre Dame's Irish terrier mascots arguably saved the best until last, signing off as the college's official mascot following Notre Dame's 51-0 slaughtering of the USC Trojans in the 1966 championship game.
Ara Parseghian's team, who also won a championship in 1964, is widely regarded as one of the greatest college teams of all time. What better way for the college's former lucky charm to sign off?
According to Notre Dame, the Clashmore Mike mascot last made an appearance on the cover of the 1963 Notre Dame Football Dope Book with coach Hugh Devore and captain Bob Lehmann.
In 1965, however, the University switched gears as the Fighting Irish Leprechaun was named the official mascot, which continues today.
* Originally published in 2021, updated in Aug 2023.
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Over the years, the leprechaun costume and persona have evolved. The current leprechaun mascot is always a student at the university and is selected through a competitive process. The mascot's role is to energize the crowd, lead cheers, and engage with fans during games and events. The leprechaun often performs elaborate stunts and displays acrobatic skills to entertain the spectators. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish mascot has become iconic in college sports and is recognized nationwide. The leprechaun symbolizes the university's pride, spirit, and Irish heritage. It is a reminder of the strong athletic tradition and the values that Notre Dame stands for, including perseverance, determination, and teamwork..
Reviews for "The Role of Nitre Dame's Original Mascot in Building Community"
1. John - 1/5 stars - The Notre Dame original mascot is simply awful. It fails to capture the spirit and energy of the university. The leprechaun costume looks cheap and cartoonish, more fitting for a children's party than a respected school. It also perpetuates negative stereotypes about Irish people. Overall, I am highly disappointed with the original mascot and believe Notre Dame should consider revamping it to something more dignified and representative of the values of the institution.
2. Emily - 2/5 stars - I didn't find the Notre Dame original mascot appealing or inspiring. The leprechaun costume seems outdated and lacks creativity. It's hard to take seriously and doesn't seem to embody the strength and tradition associated with Notre Dame. I think the university should consider reimagining their mascot to better reflect the excellence and prestige of the institution.
3. Alex - 2/5 stars - The original mascot for Notre Dame is underwhelming. The leprechaun costume looks like something out of a low-budget movie, with tacky accessories and an unimpressive design. It doesn't convey the sense of passion and pride that one would expect from a mascot representing such a prestigious university. I believe Notre Dame should invest in a new mascot that embodies the true essence of the institution and can generate more enthusiasm among the students and fans.