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| Celtic Radio Community > Ireland > The Irish Flag |
| Posted by: Siobhan Blues 31-Aug-2005, 01:54 PM |
| THE FLAG OF IRELAND =================== The national flag of Ireland is a tricolour of green, white and orange. The tricolour is rectangular in shape with the width being twice the depth. The three colours of the Irish flag are of equal size, vertically disposed, and the green is displayed next to the staff, followed by the white, and then the orange. The flag was first introduced by Thomas Francis Meagher during the revolutionary year of 1848 as an emblem of the Young Ireland movement which sought Irish independence. The 3 colors have great significance. The green represents the old Gaelic tradition, the orange represents the Ulster Unionist tradition and the white represents a place in the middle where both traditions can co-exist in peace. The 1916 rising led by Padraig Pearse was the moment when the tricolor began to be accepted as the Irish flag. An national coat of arms of Ireland depicts the famous Irish Harp on a blue background. The Irish harp is also often used on flags bearing the saying 'Erin go Braugh' which has been a symbol of Irish identity for centuries. The phrase Erin go Bragh (sometimes 'Erin go Braugh') translates from Gaelic as 'Ireland Forever' and is pronounced 'air-inn guh braw'. The Saint Patrick's Battalion who fought in the Mexican war of 1847 were among the first to use the flag which shows the harp with the famous phrase underneath it. In modern times it is not uncommon for people of Irish heritage to display the Irish flag with their own family coat of arms within it. (courtesy of : The Information about Ireland Site Newsletter August 2005) The Newsletter for people interested in Ireland Now received by over 50,000 people worldwide http://www.ireland-information.com http://www.irishnation.com |
| Posted by: Siarls 05-Sep-2005, 05:26 AM |
| What flag does Ireland use at sea? Isn't there a presidential standard as well? Do the different regions have flags? |
| Posted by: Eiric 08-Sep-2005, 08:28 AM |
| Don't they use a Golden harp on a blue background??? That's the president'sflag anyway... |