Irish star Evanna Lynch will carry the flag for Ireland in the new Harry Potter movie, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince."

Evanna - who plays Luna "Looney" Lovegood - is from Termonfeckin in County Louth, the smallest county in Ireland.

She was just 14 when she beat out thousands of hopefuls for the role in "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix."

Now, aged just 17, she's set to become an even bigger star in the film which premiers in Ireland on July 13 and the U.S. on July 15.

But Evanna's not the only Irish connection in the Harry Potter film.

Fans have emailed us to point us to the numerous Irish references in the series.

Do you know any others? Add your comments at the bottom.



Irish stars


Evanna Lynch as Luna Lovegood

The late Richard Harris as Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore

Michael Gambon as the new Albus Dumbledore

Brendan Gleeson as Mad-Eye Moody

Kenneth Branagh as Gilderoy Lockhart in (“Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets”)

Devon Murray as Seamus FinniganFiona Shaw as Petunia Dursley

Domnhall Gleeson (Brendan Gleeson's son) as Bill Weasley (“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows")

Michelle Fairley as Mrs. Granger (“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”)

Irish characters

Main character Seamus Finnigan, a Gryffindor in Harry Potter’s year at Hogwarts and a member of Dumbledore’s Army, is a permanent resident of Ireland.

Mr. and Mrs. Finnigan are Seamus’ parents. Mr. is a Muggle, while the Mrs. is a witch.

Fergus, Seamus’s older cousin, who often "apparates" (magically transports) to annoy him. Are there more Irish names than Seamus and Fergus?!

Fingal the Fearless is a legendary Irish wizard

Queen Maeve is an Irish medieval witch who trained wizards and witches before the founding of Hogwarts

Morholt is an Irish giant

Morholt’s brother is a king of Ireland

Tristan is an Irish hero who tried to kill Morholt

Darren O’Hare was a captain and keeper of the Kenmare Kestrels from 1947 to 1960

Aidan Lynch is a seeker for the Irish National Quidditch team.

Barry Ryan is a keeper for the Irish National Quidditch team.

Connolly and Quigley are beaters for the Irish National Quidditch team.

Moran, Mullet and Troy are chasers for the Irish National Quidditch team.

Irish magical creatures

Aethonans, a chestnut breed of winged horses

Augureys, shy birds that issue a heart-rending cry at the approach of rain

Banshees, creatures with the appearance of a woman that scream in an unearthly, wailing voice

Grindylows, water demons that dwell in lakes

Imps, small, humanoid, dark brown creatures with a mischievous nature

Jarveys, beasts that resemble large ferrets and can talk

Kelpies, water demons that can alter their appearance

Leprechauns, small, humanoid creatures that can talk and like to play tricks on humans

Merrows, a Merpeople breed

Mokes, lizards that can shrink at will

Porlocks, horse guardians from southern Ireland and Dorset

Irish Quidditch

Ireland won the 422nd Quidditch World Cup in 1994 against Bulgaria. England, Scotland and Wales were knocked out (hooray!) so the Hogwarts boys supported Ireland as the closest country. Would this ever happen in real life?!

The Irish team's mascots are leprechauns.

The Irish team members were named after friends of the author J.K. Rowling.

Ireland’s Ballycastle Bats are the second most successful team in the British and Irish Quidditch League, having won the title twenty-seven times.

The Kenmare Kestrals are another Irish Quidditch team, and the team supported by Irish “Potter” character Seamus Finnigan. Seamus keeps a green rosette beside his bed.

Irish words

“Boggart," which is a shape-shifter in "Harry Potter" that takes on the form of its victim's worst fear, is very similar to the Irish word “bagairt,” meaning threat.

Seamus' boggart is a banshee, another Irish word.