Trouble at home
The Union flag flew above Belfast City Hall every day of the year until 3rd December 2012 when politicians democratically voted to fly it on 18 designated days. The Confederation of British Industry said the ensuing riots have cost local businesses £10-£15 million in lost revenue.
The Union flag, representing Northern Ireland
The Irish tricolour, representing the Republic of Ireland
Some political commentators have suggested that one way to diffuse the situation might be the creation of a new flag for Northern Ireland. The country hasn’t had its own flag since the Ulster banner was used by the old Northern Ireland Government between 1953 and 1972.
The Ulster banner
There’s the older St. Patrick’s Saltire, said to pre-date the tricolour by 150 years. It’s been flown at the Edinburgh Tattoo to designate Northern Ireland, seen as less contentious than the Ulster banner.
St. Patrick’s Saltire
So here’s my idea that’s hardly innovative, but I don’t think it needs to be.
Northern Ireland flag
Northern Ireland’s footballers play in green and white. So do Ireland’s rugby team (with players from both sides of the border). No need to use blue and red.
There are a couple of different designs on Wikipedia. They’re not great, though.
—
Update:
Turns out there’s an NI Flag Facebook Group that’s been going for a while.
—
As you were.
Popular posts
10 appreciated comments on “Trouble at home”
Anything to add?
All comments are moderated so you may experience a short delay before yours appears. Comments should be respectful of other voices in the discussion, and I reserve the right to edit or delete comments at my discretion.
Please use your real name. Keywords will be removed.
.jpg){kind=link}
Nice!
I like it very much, but wonder will the genpop of loyalists approve. Elements taken from the British flag and culture are there, but of course the colour is stronger than the forms. Considering the Republic’s flag concept was peace between the greenmen and orangemen, I think a similar concept would apply here. Kudos for sparking the idea, David.
Of course, the union jack would have to change!
Cheers john, I spied this Union flag in tricolour, but I can imagine the looks.
Colour is definitely stronger than form, as John states, but this is an interesting balance. Certainly get’s my vote.
screwthefleg#
Maybe I’m oversimplifying the problem, but why not just fly all the flags in a row like they do at the UN? Then all parties are represented equally.
It’s about time. The FB page looks interesting, and if they ask me, I definitely won’t go for light blue.
I would say a very elegant solution!
The Scots may have something to say about that… but given that we nicked kilts and bagpipes from the Irish and made them our own, plus we’re all Celtic anyway, perhaps we can still get along! Plus I’m half Scots half Irish, so who am I to complain?!
There are places in Glasgow where all traces of the colour green are eradicated (traffic lights included) by the protestant residents living there (simply because of its catholic connotation). The same thing probably goes on in N Ireland. It’s a pretty sensitive design task. I reckon I’d ask the advice of the guys throwing molotovs at police, and hopefully avoid annoying them with an inferior new flag.