In America, especially around St. Patrick’s Day, you can just open the window of your house or car and hear people usually shouting their Irish pride. Not that this isn’t great, but some of his career history is barely noticed. If you shout about your Irish pride and put Irish flags on anything from your house to the rain-painted version on your dog (I’ve seen this done), then you know a thing or two about history. standard, which is where this article comes in.
To properly understand the flag, it is prudent to understand a little Irish history about religion. As most people know, there are two dominant religions in Ireland, Catholic Christians and Protestant Christians. These two religions have torn Ireland apart for centuries. Before the standard was made, they used a green flag, which carried a golden sash in the middle. For more on these and other Irish symbols, there is an excellent Associated Content article, http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/142665/common_irish_symbols,andmeanings.html. The current modern flag is known as the tricolor flag, which was derived during the French Revolution in the early 19th century as a representation of the faith that Ireland adopted during its religious conflicts. (http://www.irishflags.com/)
The conflict between Protestants and Catholics was a little faster than the events of the French Revolution. During the Irish Rebellion of 1798, we see the formation of two sides, the Orange and the Green. The Orangemen were represented by Ultonia, from the legate of King William of Orange. He represented the old tradition of green. Ulster was strictly Protestant, where as the old tradition was strictly Catholic. The old tradition held its green flag with a harp until the Easter Rising of 1916. (http://www.1916rising.com/flag.html)
In the late 19th and early 20th century there was much debate as to what the flag of Ireland should be. Both need a large enough denomination. Ideas extending from white, yellow, blue, green to green, gold, white; and Hyacinthus (Presbyterian). Nothing was ever officially established until the 1920s when the Irish flag was used to represent the new Irish state. (http://www.1916rising.com/flag.html)
This debate reigned until 1937, when the Constitution of Ireland agreed to the single national flag we know today. The flag enigma is strong enough that symbols were banned in Ireland at one point in Irish history. The flag we know today has three colors. Green is the first color, next to the pole and on the left hand side, which represents Catholic Irish Christians. . On the right side, farther from the pole, is the color of Gold, which represents the Protestants of Ireland. In the middle, between the two rivals, is the color white, which describes the peace between the two religions. (http://www.1916rising.com/flag.html)
The day after St. Patrick’s Day, when you see men and women waving and wearing Irish flags with pride, you can confidently know that you now know what this flag represents. In addition, you also know the history behind the fights, which although you know it, is a sign today. Please take a look at the article I provided earlier in this article before I finish this historical discussion. It is a well written article that deserves your attention.
Sources:
http://www.1916rising.com/flag.html
http://www.irishflags.com/
