Our national flag and the Beo go Deo article

Monday, 20 June 2011 13:39

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CONGRATULATIONS to Mairtín O'Máicin on his recent Beo go Deo article highlighting the lack of respect that is shown to our national flag and the way in which it is abused.

It is extremely rare to see it flown correctly, i.e. it should be the first flag on the left as you look at the building outside of which flags are flying or otherwise on a higher central flag pole.
However, in spite of the many valid points he raises it is quite appalling that so many Irish people do not even know the colour of our national flag. This could not possibly happen in any other country in the world and it is a source of jaw dropping disbelief. The colour of the Irish Tricolour is green, white and orange, not gold, not yellow. It is green white and orange! How can people get this wrong?
It symbolises the republican ideal of peace between those from the nationalist and unionist tradition living peacefully together. It is designed on the model of the flag of the Republic of France and (although it was mentioned as a future symbol in 1830 and 1844) was first brought to Ireland from France by Thomas Francis Meagher in 1848. It has been about for 163 years.
Isn't it is about time that all citizens of this country began to know what colour the Irish flag is and what it symbolises? Citizens of other countries would hang their heads in shame if such a situation existed. Maybe if schools or parents taught this to our children it would be a beginning?

Le meas,

Captain Donal Buckley,
'Woodfield',
Derryhick,
Castlebar.