Origin
Shamrock (also known as as Molly Fitzgerald) is an Irish superhero born in Dunshaughlin, Ireland. When Molly was three years old, she obtained her powers inadvertently. Her father Dennis Fitzgerald had come up with a mad plan to obtain holy retribution and took both her and her brother Paddy to the northern mountains in Ireland. This is where their father prayed to the Gods to give his son, not Molly, great powers to strike down his father’s enemies. A disgruntled Dennis assumed nothing had changed as it appeared nothing had happened, and he took Molly and her brother and they left the mountain, unsuccessful.
Many, many years later when she was in college, Molly would find that her father did not fail in his quest, however his actions did not have the outcome he had wanted. Molly found that she had incredible new abilities, she could manifest a special protective aura that emanated from her body that granted her “good luck”. It was at that point that Molly decided to create a costumed identity representing her native homeland and her unique abilities and became the costumed hero Shamrock.
Creation
Shamrock was created by Bill Mantlo and John Romita Jr. and first appeared in Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions issue #1 (1982), Marvel’s first limited-series. She was created along with various other new superheroes representing different geographical countries own homegrown superheroes talent with Shamrock representing Ireland.
Major Story Arcs
Contest of Champions
Shamrock is most known in her battles with several other superheroes when the Grandmaster transported her to participate in the Contest of Champions. She was originally brought to these battles when she had saved a group of school children that she taught from a terrorist bomb. She was then teleported away by the Grandmaster with hundreds of other heroes and villains from Earth. They were all there so that the Grandmaster and Death could choose their Champions. Before the teams were selected, all were aloud to meet each other. It was then that Shamrock and Captain Britain met and quickly began to dislike each other. This was due to their countries histories against each other. It would be rather fitting then that they end up on opposing teams. Shamrock would be assigned to Death’s team and Captain Britain to Grandmaster’s team. In the end she wins a small victory for her team, but in the end her team loses over-all. Once done all the heroes are returned home.
Family Reunion
Upon returning home, Shamrock would continue her super heroics in her native homeland of Ireland. She aided Earth and ROM against the Dire Wraiths and was successful. Afterwards though she would retire and become a primary school teacher. She would continue as a teacher until news of her family reached her. She was told by her father that her brother, Paddy, was killed. She would leave immediately to see her father.
Once there he attempted to sway her to doing crimes for her father. Disagreeing with him, her father would drug her and turn her over to Arnim Zola. He wanted to see if Arnim could duplicate her powers or even transfer them to her father. While Shamrock was being experimented on, her powers reacted and began to flare out. Her powers grew exponentially and began destroying Arnim’s machinery and building. She even managed to destroy Arnim’s cybernetic body. Angered that Molly ruined his plans, her father would pull a gun on her. He was intent to kill her. When he pulled the trigger, her powers reacted and the gun exploded, killing him instead.
International Success
Following these events she continued to fight crime a little while longer. She even fought alongside the Canadian heroes of Alpha Flight, but her time as a hero was coming to a close.
Lucky Turn of Events
While at home, Molly in her washroom and broke her left leg. This was the moment that convinced her that her powers were gone and her luck had run out. She then retired her Shamrock costume and focused in on her career as a hairdresser. She was very successful and had a great reputation. She became the “Most sought after hairdresser in all of Europe.” She even has superheroes as her clients, including: Kitty Pryde, Sue Storm and Wolfsbane previously of Excalibur and from the Avengers, the Wasp.
At one time the cat-burglur known as the Black Cat brought her niece Lou in for a trim. However Lou did not want her hair to be cut to much to the frustration of the Black Cat. Than the villain called the Trapster attacked the salon, being knocked out by Lou and the use of one of Molly’s blowdryer’s. Molly would use the Trapster’s glue from his weapon to than give Lou a fancy hairdo.
Luck o’ the Irish Pub
Shamrock would later stop her career as a salon owner in Europe and move to the U.S.A. She would purchase a local bar in New York’s trendy meat packing district in a bar named “Luck o’ the Irish Pub“. A private event held one night at the pup was a gathering of various male superheroes whom were Hercules, Iron Fist, Werewolf by Night, Nate Grey, Cannonball and Venom.
Powers and Abilities
Shamrock has the probability altering power to give herself “Good Luck” and give though against her “Bad Luck.” Shamrock’s powers come from innocent victims that died during the time of war. She is actually possessed by these sprites. These poltergeists come to aid Shamrock in time of need for a short amount a time to bring her good luck in her current situation. These spirits are her main power, as she does not use any weapons in battle. It appears that Shamrock has no control over her power. It acts out when it wishes to. Her luck power can affect things within a 20 foot radius of Shamrock.
Shamrock is an exceptional athlete and is highly trained in unarmed combat. Since her powers are of a passive design she has leaned in greatly to acrobatics and agility, she is a fantastic tumbler. Shamrock also has honed her fighting skills over the years and is formidable opponent to those bigger and stronger than her.
Personal Data
Status
Citizenship: Citizen of the Republic of Ireland, with no criminal record, resident of the United States of America
Identity: Private
Place of Birth: Dunshaughlin, Ireland
Marital Status: Single
Occupation: Owner of the Luck o’ the Irish Pub in New York city , Formerly: Once highly sought after Hairstylist, Formerly: Adventurer, Formerly Teacher & Student
Education: College Graduate, hairstylist, mixologist
Known relatives: Mr. Dennis Fitzgerald (father, deceased), Mrs. Fitzgerald (mother, deceased), Patrick “Paddy” Fitzgerald (brother, deceased)
Characteristics
Gender: Female
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 135 lbs
Eyes: Green
Hair: Red
Alternate Realities
Earth-691: Guardians Of The Galaxy
The reality takes place in the 31st century along with the superhero group known as the Guardians of the Galaxy. Here Shamrock is an ally of Cuchulain.
At the end of the War of the Worlds and the upcoming conquest of Earth by the Martians, Doctor Druid gave Shamrock the responsibility of guarding the Book of Kells, which now contained the history of the Martian invasion, until humanity was once again ready to take control of the planet. Due to her powers and the immortality granted to her by the souls of those inside her, she was the most likely choice.
As a companion, Doctor Druid removed the soul of the greatest warrior of all of Ireland, Cuchulain, to keep her company and assist in protecting the book. They did so together in the prehistoric tomb Newgrange until the Guardians of the Galaxy of the 31st century came for the book to give to the newly formed civilization in New York.
Shamrock and Cuchulain went on to start their own renewed civilization in Europe.
Earth-2149: Marvel Zombies
Most of the human population have been eaten by its super-human zombie population. Zombie Shamrock, Tigra, and Moon Knight encounter Deadpool. Deadpool defeats Shamrock using her powers against her, resulting in her death – again.