Respecting the National Flag
MEATHMAN'S DIARY: John Donohoe
It’s great to see such an outpouring of national pride around the county, and in particular, in the county town, in recent weeks. Those gallant women on the Irish soccer team, heading for the World Cup qualifiers; the heroic men’s team and the sainted Troy Parrott, heading for World Cup play-offs; even the unfortunate rugby team that came a cropper in the Autumn Nations Series at the weekend, will all have been delighted to see the abundance of Tricolours flying from lampposts around the town in support of them.
Driving around the ring road in recent weeks, I had to check if I had missed Christmas and had arrived at the St Patrick’s Day Parade. Because you never know around Navan. If you drive down Trimgate Street or Kennedy Road, you will notice that the bunting is still up since the St Patrick’s Day Parade. Earlier this year, the crew responsible for taking down the Christmas Lights got them down just in time for the crew on the Parade Committee to put up the bunting for the national saint’s festivities. Seriously. I have photos of the parade bunting and the Christmas lights swinging side by side on the streets. They still are.
Come the springtime, and just passed the new feast of St Brigid, there will be an outburst because nobody has gone to the meetings to organise the Patrick’s Day Parade, and it might not happen at all, and nobody cares, and all they want to do is drink in the pubs all day. So, here’s an idea. Start the preparations early for St Patrick’s Day. All these patriotic guys with the stock of flags who are so keen to climb up flagpoles would be a great advantage to have on the St Patrick’s Day committee.
And for those Patriotic souls, a few of the protocol guidelines for the flying of the National Flag: It is flown daily at all military posts and from a limited number of State buildings; it is also flown on St Patrick’s Day (the national holiday), Easter Sunday and Easter Monday (in commemoration of the rising of 1916), and the national day of commemoration (the Sunday closest to 11 July, the date of the Anglo-Irish truce in 1921). The National Flag is flown at other significant national and local events such as festivals and commemorations; the National Flag is normally displayed in the open only from sunrise to sunset, except on the occasion of public meetings, processions or funerals, when it may be displayed for the duration of such function; the National Flag may be flown by night as well as by day as long as it is properly illuminated at all times, preferably by spotlight.
On a serious note, let’s respect the Tricolour. It was hijacked by a particular movement for long enough, claiming to be operating in the name of the Irish people. We don't need a repeat of all that.
FÓGRA: A Grassroots Campaign: #OurFlag
A new grassroots campaign, #OurFlag, is calling on people and communities across Ireland to come together and reclaim the Irish flag as a symbol of unity, inclusion, and hope for all people of Ireland.
There is a rise in hate-fuelled rhetoric and violence towards migrants and refugees across Ireland, alongside growing concerns about the national flag being used in ways that suggest exclusion rather than welcome.
While fear and anger is understandable due to low wages, escalating cost of living and unprecedented housing shortages, this is being misplaced towards some of the most vulnerable members of our society including migrants and refugees.
We need to call for an Ireland which provides warm homes and safe streets for all and together we must hold our decision makers to account and make sure they are actively planning, resourcing and funding a strategy that benefits everyone.
#OurFlag seeks to offer a visible, hopeful and compassionate counter-message — one that reflects Ireland’s long-standing tradition of solidarity, inclusion and how as a nation we can overcome by standing together during these challenging times.
Throughout the first week of December, people across Ireland will take part by posting a photo or short message with the Irish flag, using the hashtags #OurFlag, #LoveNotHate, and #ÉireLeChéile
“The Irish flag was never meant to divide us — it was created to unite us,” said Dil Wickremasinghe, psychotherapist, community activist and Irish citizen. “Our flag belongs to everyone who calls Ireland home. This campaign is about reminding ourselves what it truly stands for — unity, equality and compassion for one another.”
The week-long campaign will see over 20 national organisations and 50+ influential voices from sport, culture, politics, and media sharing messages of inclusion — a reminder that Ireland’s values of compassion and welcome remain strong.
The campaign is coordinated by a coalition of community partners including Irish Network Against Racism (INAR), Irish Refugee Council (IRC), Immigrant Council of Ireland (ICI), Migrants Rights Centre of Ireland (MRCI), Hope & Courage, Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL), Black & Irish, United Against Hate, MASI, Open Doors Initiative, Nasc, National Women's Council (NWCI), Rethink Ireland, Dublin Pride, LGBT Ireland, Belong To, Transgender Equality Network of Ireland (TENI), Outhouse LGBTQ+ Centre, Gorm Media, We Make Good, Insight Matters and others, working together to ensure that Ireland’s national symbol continues to represent unity in diversity.
Be Part of the Message
Simply post a photo or video with the Irish flag from December 1–5, along with a personal message of inclusion using the hashtags #OurFlag #LoveNotHate #ÉireLeChéile