Flag of Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland has not had its own unique government sanctioned
flag since 1972, when its
government was
prorogued. Due to the division of the population along religious and political lines, a wide variety of flags can be seen flying from lampposts and private houses across Northern Ireland.
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The Ulster Banner - the flag of the former government of Northern Ireland |
The "Ulster Banner" was the official name given to the Northern Ireland flag (a Red cross with a red hand, a six pointed star, and a crown), which is seen today as Northern Ireland's
de facto unique flag. This flag is commonly referred to, especially by
unionists, as the "
Red Hand Flag" or as the "Ulster Flag" (not to be confused with the
provincial Flag of Ulster). In
1924, the Government of
Northern Ireland was granted
arms by
Royal Warrant and had the right to display these arms on a flag or banner. This right was exercised for the
Coronation in
1953. Between
1953 and
1972, this flag was the arms of the Government of Northern Ireland and commonly used during this period as a
de facto civil flag. It ceased to have official government sanction when the
Parliament of Northern Ireland was dissolved by the
British government in
1972.
A common misperception is that the red cross is the flag of St George as on the England flag. This is not true. The red cross is taken from the ancient flag representing the Irish Province of Ulster.
The flag is based on the ancient
provincial flag of
Ulster. The open thumb on this flag (compared to the closed thumb on the provincial flag) is thought to be present to differentiate between the six counties of Northern Ireland and the nine counties of the
province of Ulster. The yellow background became white, to more closely resemble the flag of
England. The crown symbolises the loyalty of Ulster
unionists to the
British Monarchy. There is a dispute as to the meaning of the star, with some maintaining it is the
Star of David, and others say it represents the six counties that make up Northern Ireland.
Despite the current lack of governmental sanction, the flag is used extensively within the
unionist community, along with the
Union Flag. The
unionist community also fly a number of modified "Red Hand" banners; versions which place the
Union Flag in the
Canton, and one superimposes both the red hand and the outline of a map of Northern Ireland on the
Union Flag. It is regularly displayed by fans of the
Northern Ireland football team, and the
Ulster rugby team. Some Ulster rugby supporters also display the
Flag of Ulster.
The flag is still, somewhat controversially, used to represent the region at the
Commonwealth Games and
UEFA competitions.
In Northern Ireland, each community uses its own flags to declare its allegiance and mark its 'territory', often in a manner that is deliberately provocative. Thus it is the "Ulster Banner" and the Union Flag that are flown by unionists, while the Irish
tricolour is often used to represent
nationalist defiance.
Under the
1998 Belfast Agreement, flags continue to be a source of disagreement in Northern Ireland. The Agreement states that:
All participants acknowledge the sensitivity of the use of symbols and emblems for public purposes, and the need in particular in creating the new institutions to ensure that such symbols and emblems are used in a manner which promotes mutual respect rather than division.Nationalists have pointed to this to argue that the use of the Union Flag for official purposes should be restricted, or that the tricolour should be flown alongside the British flag on government buildings. However all signatories to the Agreement also declare their acceptance of the "principle of consent" (i.e. that there will be no change to the constitutional position of Northern Ireland unless a majority votes for it), and unionists argue that this provision amounts to recognising that the Union Flag is the only legitimate official flag in Northern Ireland.
Nonetheless some level of compromise has been achieved. The Union Flag is no longer flown over
Parliament Buildings and state offices except on a limited number of 'named days' (honouring, for example
Queen Elizabeth II's official birthday). One exception is
Lisburn, where the council has decided to fly the Union Flag every day of the year.
Main article: Northern Ireland flags issue
Although the idea of a new flag for Northern Ireland has been discussed from time to time, it has little popular support, as most unionists and
loyalists do not wish to see Northern Ireland's links with Britain and the Crown undermined. Similarly, many
nationalists and
republicans do not recognise Northern Ireland as a viable separate entity, and therefore, see no reason for it to have any symbols.
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FOTW: Northern Ireland*
CAIN: Flags in Northern Ireland*
Flagging concern: the controversy over flags and emblems*
Tension over flag flying at BBC News
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Flag of Northern Ireland Flash animation of Northern Ireland flag make up
