The Republic
of Ireland is a state which covers approximately five-sixths of
the country. The remaining sixth of the island of Ireland is
known as Northern Ireland and is part of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland
The
country's official constitutional name is Eire or, in the
English language, Ireland. The Republic of Ireland is the
official description of the state
Unless
otherwise indicated on this page, Ireland refers to the Republic
of Ireland
As the
above picture of the Irish Flag indicates the Irish tricolour,
has three equal vertical bands of Green (hoist side), White and
Orange
According to
Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated
with colors. The colors on the Irish flag, however , have modern
symbolism and the Meaning & History of the Irish Flag is as
follows:
Green
of the Irish Flag -
the native people of Ireland (most of whom are Roman Catholic
- the Nationalists / Republicans)
Orange
of the Irish Flag -
represents the British supporters of William of Orange who
settled in Northern Ireland in the 17th century (most of whom
are Protestant - the Unionists / Loyalists)
White
of the Irish Flag -
peace and honesty between the people
All Flag
pictures depict flags flying, from the viewer's point of view,
from left to right
The shape and flag ratio of the Irish flag is described as 1:2 ( length twice the height )
The Irish
tricolour was first used by Irish nationalists in 1848 during
the 'Young Ireland' rebellion
The British
flag is no longer flown over Parliament Buildings and state
offices except on a limited number of 'named days' such as Queen
Elizabeth II's official birthday
The Lord
Mayor of Belfast displays both the British and Irish flags in
his own offices
Flag
Terminology - Did you Know ?
The design and description
uses specific flag terminology based on Heraldic principles
Animal blazons should always appear
with the heads facing the flag - staff side
The Study of the Flags is called
Vexillology
Your interest in flags makes you a
Vexillologist!
Increase your knowledge - Play the
Flag Quiz
Flag History &
Evolution:
The idea of
flying a flag grew from the requirements of ancient warfare and
the battlefield
Shields were
painted with emblems to identify Friend or Foe
Warriors
needed to know where their leaders were - the custom of carrying
a pole was adopted
An emblem
such as a shield, animal or religious device was attached to the
pole for identification
The emblems
were also used for identity and to cover suits of armour - Coats
of Arms were born
These
emblems were the forerunners of modern flags
The Romans
were the first to use a cloth flag - they were square and
fastened to cross bars at the end of spears - the idea of
fastening a flag to the side of a pole soon followed
The strict
rules of Heraldry are still used when designing an emblem and
creating a modern flag
Irish
Flag Etiquette
Irish Flag etiquette is very strict and is is
essential that Flag protocols and rules are followed correctly
Basic Flag
Etiquette applies to all nations, including Irish as follows:
Etiquette relating to the order of
precedence for the flag
National Flag of
Irish
State Flag of Irish
Military Flag of
Irish (in order of creation date)
Other Flag of Irish
The United Nations uses alphabetical order
when presenting a national flag including the Irish Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures
that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's
flag
The National flag of
Irish should never be flown
above another national flag on the same staff as this would
suggest superiority, or conversely, inferiority of one flag, or
Nation, over another
The Irish flag should never be allowed to drag
along the ground
A tattered or faded flag of
Irish should be removed
and replaced with a new flag
Due care and
consideration must be taken to ensure that the Irish flag is
always
flown the correct way up
A Flag of Irish, when in such
condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display,
should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning in
private with all due care and respect
Terminology & Etiquette in Irish Flag display
Hoist - the
act or function of raising the Irish flag, as on a rope
Half Staff
or Half Mast - the Irish flag is hoisted to half of the potential
height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
Performed
by first raising the Irish flag to the top, then lowering the
Irish Flag halfway
Distress -
denoted by flying the Irish flag upside-down
Manner of
hoisting - The Irish flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered
ceremoniously
No
disrespect should be shown to the Irish flag
The Irish flag
should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a
manner as to permit the Flag to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in
any way
The Irish
flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it,
nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure,
design, picture, or drawing on the flag of any nature
The
Irish flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
International Flag relating to Irish
Flag usage forbids the
display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation
in time of peace
We hope that the presentation of facts and
information regarding Irish Flag Etiquette has provided a useful
resource
Ireland
Location:
Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of
the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great
Britain
Irish Land Size : 70,280 sq km
Irish Population:
3,969,558 (July 2004 est.)
Former Name(s) :
N/A
Capital City of
Ireland: Dublin
Irish GDP :
$117 billion (2003 est.)
Irish Main Industries :
food products, brewing, textiles, clothing; chemicals,
pharmaceuticals, machinery, transportation equipment, glass and
crystal; software
Main Colors of
Irish Flag : Green, orange and white
Concise History of
the Irish
10,000 BC
Earliest settlers arrived in Ireland in the Mesolithic or
Middle Stone Age period
The first
settlers crossed by land bridge from Scotland
600-150 B.C.
- Celtic tribes settled on the island
100 BC
Arrival of the Gaels
432 AD -
Arrival of St. Patrick to help convert pagan Irish Gaelic Kings to
Christianity
800 Ireland
attacked by Viking Norsemen
920 Vikings
established settlements at Limerick
940 Brian
Boru was born who was the son of a leader of one of the royal
free tribes of Munster
Brian Boru
defeated Vikings in 999
1167 Arrival
of Normans at Baginbun in Co. Wexford which initiated the
struggle between the English and the Irish
Reign of
Rory O'Connor who was the last native High King of Ireland
(1166-1175)
The Statutes
of Kilkenny of 1388 forbade Irish/English marriages and
prevented the English to use Irish language, custom or laws
1500's -
Anarchy in Ireland and the failed Kildare Rebellion
Ireland were
ruled by the senior nobles and monarchy of England
1603
Accession of James 1 and the enforcement of English Law in
Ireland
1641 Great
Catholic-Gaelic rebellion for return of lands
1649 The
Protestant Lord Protector of England, Oliver Cromwell,
landed at Dublin. His troops killed 2,000 men and great part of
Irish lands were confiscated and divided among the English
Ireland's
population was reduced by two thirds during Cromwell's rule when
the Irish were sent as slaves to work on plantations in the
islands in the Caribbean
The English
monarchy is restored in 1660 with the accession of King Charles
II
1689 Siege
and relief of Derry - King James II's Parliament restores all
lands confiscated since 1641
1690 William
of Orange (William III) lands at Carrickfergus and defeats James
II at Battle of the Boyne
In 1695
Anti-Catholic Penal Laws were introduced
By the early
1700's Catholics hold just 7% of land in Ireland
Irish
Revolution, the 'Young Ireland' rebellion, of 1798 failed
1845-49 The
Irish Potato Famine. Many Irish emigrate to America. Irish population
drops from 8 million to 6 million due to death from starvation
or emigration
1914 - 1918
- First World War
1916 Easter
Rising in Dublin
Irish War of
Independence against Great Britain - 1919-21 ending in the Anglo
Irish Treaty
In the
Government of Ireland Act 1920, Ireland was partitioned, with
the unionist-dominated north east becoming Northern Ireland
1922 - 1923
- Irish Civil War between the Free State army and IRA
1926 De
Valera founds Fianna Fail
1937 The
Constitution of "Eire"
1939 - 1945
- The Second World War
1939 - 1945
WW11
August 1945
The United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
1949
Republic of Ireland declared
1951-62 IRA
campaign in Northern Ireland
1969 -
British troops sent to Derry
1971 -
Unionist government of NI introduces internment without trial
for suspected Republicans
1994 IRA
declares cease-fire
1998 Initial
peace-plan, the Good Friday Agreement, accepted by all parties
Irish
governments have sought the peaceful unification of Ireland and
have cooperated with Britain against terrorist groups
"Around the World in 80
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A combination of information
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In just a short period of time this
concise information with specific facts will improve your
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A useful Educational Resource
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The
Irish Flag and Nation
We hope that the presentation of facts
and information regarding the Irish Flag and Country has
provided a useful educational resource. To improve your knowledge
of Flags and Vexillology still further check out the Flag and Nations
Index and test your knowledge with our
interactive, multi-choice, picture-based Flag Trivia Quiz Game - it's fast and
it's fun! If you answer all questions correctly you will earn the
right to enter the Vexillologist Hall of Fame!
