What does the phrase 'Erin go bragh' mean in English?

What does the phrase ‘Erin go bragh’ mean in English? It means “Ireland forever.”

The expression is an anglicized form of the Irish phrase Éirinn go Brách, with Éire meaning Ireland and go brách conveying the sense of forever, eternity, or the end of time. The spelling “Erin” comes from Éirinn, a grammatical form of the Irish name for Ireland.

“Erin go bragh” is a patriotic slogan expressing enduring loyalty to Ireland. It became associated with Irish nationalism and was used by the United Irishmen in the 1790s. The phrase later appeared on flags, banners, songs, sporting uniforms, and other expressions of Irish identity, especially among Irish emigrant communities.

One common mistake is treating it as a literal description of Ireland’s color. “Green Ireland” is not the translation, even though green is strongly linked with Irish national symbolism and St. Patrick’s Day. “Long live Ireland” can capture some of the phrase’s patriotic force, but “Ireland forever” is the standard English rendering. A related Gaelic slogan is Alba gu bràth, meaning “Scotland forever.”