The national animal of Ireland is the Irish hare (Lepus timidus hibernicus), a distinctive subspecies of mountain hare found nowhere else on Earth. Ireland has no single creature proclaimed in law the way the harp serves as its official state emblem, but among native wildlife the Irish hare is the most widely recognised national animal. It is celebrated for its ancient presence on the island, its place in Irish folklore, and its status as a uniquely Irish mammal that has shared the landscape with people for thousands of years.
What Makes the Irish Hare Unique
The Irish hare is a separate subspecies of the mountain hare, evolved in isolation on the island of Ireland. Adults typically weigh between 2.5 and 3.8 kilograms, making them smaller and more compact than the European brown hare. Their coat is a warm reddish-brown that stays largely the same shade throughout the year, unlike Scottish mountain hares that turn white in winter to blend with snow. This year-round colouring is itself a clue to Ireland's mild, snow-light climate, where a white winter coat would offer no camouflage advantage.
These animals are built for speed. In short bursts an Irish hare can reach roughly 70 kilometres per hour, helping it outrun foxes and birds of prey across open ground. Their large, near-spherical eyes give them an almost 360-degree field of vision without turning their heads, and their long ears pick up the faintest sounds of approaching danger. Unlike rabbits, hares do not dig burrows; instead they shelter in shallow surface scrapes called "forms," pressed into long grass or heather where their colouring lets them disappear against the ground.
Why the Hare Symbolises Ireland
The Irish hare is one of the oldest surviving mammals on the island, having arrived around 10,000 years ago as ice sheets retreated at the close of the last Ice Age. That deep continuity, combined with its status as a creature found only in Ireland, gives it a strong claim as a national emblem. While many of Ireland's larger mammals were later introduced by people, the hare is a genuine native that has been here longer than human settlement itself.
Its cultural roots run just as deep. In Irish mythology the hare was linked to the goddess Brigid and treated as a sacred animal, and old folk belief warned that harming a hare could bring misfortune. Some legends described shape-shifting women who took the form of a hare, which made hunters wary of the animal. The hare has appeared on Irish currency for generations, most famously on the pre-decimal threepenny coin issued from the 1920s, and the motif has carried through to commemorative coins and postage stamps. For many people it remains a quiet symbol of the rural Irish landscape.
Where the Irish Hare Lives
The Irish hare ranges across the entire island, in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It is remarkably adaptable, occupying habitats from sea-level coastal grasslands and farmland to upland peat bogs and mountain slopes more than 600 metres above sea level. It is especially associated with open countryside in the west of Ireland and on offshore islands, where undisturbed grassland suits its grazing habits. The hare's broad altitudinal range is unusual; few European mammals thrive equally on a windswept Atlantic island and a Wicklow mountainside.
Active mainly at dusk and through the night, hares spend daylight hours resting in their forms, relying on stillness and camouflage rather than escape. During the spring breeding season they become far more visible, gathering in loose groups in fields where observers may witness the famous "boxing" displays at dawn and dusk.
Behaviour and the Famous Boxing Hares
The springtime spectacle of two hares rearing up and striking at each other with their front paws is one of the best-known sights in the Irish countryside. Contrary to a common assumption, this is usually not two males fighting. More often it is a female fending off the persistent advances of a male she is not yet ready to mate with. The behaviour gave rise to the phrase "mad as a March hare," reflecting the frenzied activity of the breeding season.
Irish hares are largely solitary grazers, feeding on grasses, herbs, and the shoots of low-growing plants. In winter they may turn to gorse and the bark of young shrubs when grass is scarce. Females, called does, can produce several litters of young, known as leverets, across a long breeding season that can stretch from late winter into autumn. Leverets are born fully furred with open eyes and are left hidden in vegetation, where the mother visits briefly to nurse them, a strategy that keeps predators from tracking her to the young.
Conservation and Threats
The Irish hare is classified as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN, but its numbers have fallen in many areas over recent decades. Intensified farming, loss of mixed grassland habitat, and disease have all contributed, and populations are known to swing significantly from year to year. The species is legally protected under wildlife legislation in both jurisdictions on the island, and any hunting or coursing is controlled through a regulated licensing system.
One specific concern is the European brown hare, introduced to parts of Ireland in the 19th century. Where the two overlap, the non-native species may compete for resources and potentially interbreed, threatening the genetic distinctiveness of the native Irish hare. Conservation efforts therefore focus on protecting traditional grassland habitats, maintaining hedgerows, and monitoring populations through regular surveys. If you enjoy learning about the wildlife and landscapes of nations like this, explore our Ireland country guide for more on the island.
Key Facts
- Common name: Irish hare
- Scientific name: Lepus timidus hibernicus (a subspecies of the mountain hare)
- Adult weight: roughly 2.5 to 3.8 kilograms
- Top speed: around 70 kilometres per hour in short bursts
- Range: the entire island of Ireland, sea level to upland bogs and mountains
- Arrived in Ireland: around 10,000 years ago, after the last Ice Age
- Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN), but legally protected
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Irish hare really the national animal of Ireland?
Ireland's only legally defined national emblem is the harp, but among native wildlife the Irish hare is the most widely recognised national animal because it is unique to the island and woven into Irish history and folklore.
What is the scientific name of the Irish hare?
Its scientific name is Lepus timidus hibernicus. It is a subspecies of the mountain hare (Lepus timidus) that evolved in isolation in Ireland.
How fast can an Irish hare run?
An Irish hare can sprint at speeds approaching 70 kilometres per hour in short bursts, ranking it among the fastest land animals found in Ireland.
What is the difference between an Irish hare and a rabbit?
Hares are larger, with longer legs and ears, and rely on speed rather than digging. They live above ground in shallow forms and bear well-developed young, while rabbits dig burrows and give birth to blind, hairless kits.