Harp Lager was first produced in 1960 as a bottled beer by the Guinness company (now Diageo), in response to the trend among drinkers in Ireland and Britain towards Continental lager.
As such, the Guinness Harp always appears with its straight edge (the soundboard) to the left, and the government harp is always shown with its straight edge to the right. It is because of the harp trademark that the Guinness company named its first lager Harp in 1960. Synonymous with the harp symbol.