Article 7 of "Bunreacht na hEireann" ( constitution of Ireland) states "The National Flag is the Tricolour of Green, White and Orange." This flag didn't come into general usage until the war of independance (1919-1921). Prior to this, the green flag with gold harp was the main symbol of nationalism. Indeed this flag flew over the G.P.O during the 1916 Rising. There have been many prior attempts to initiate a national flag. Green and Orange horizontal stripes had been used by some as early as the 18th century. But only at the creation of the first "Dail" ( House of Representatives / Commons) did the current Tricolour become widely used.

There is some debate as to the true colours of the flag. The usual symbolism is the green stands for the Catholics, the orange for the Protestants and white for peace between them. Some say that the flag is gold as opposed to orange, from the gold harp on the original Green Flag.

This confusion arose in the 1916-22 period when the tricolour (the current national flag and ensign), which had previously been quite a marginal and little-known flag, was supplanting the Green Flag (the current jack) as the principal national emblem. Green and gold, the colours of the Green Flag, were regarded as the national colours throughout the nineteenth century and some of the home-made tricolours from the 1916-22 period were in fact green, white and gold. There are also some songs from that period which refer to 'green, white and gold' flags and this helped to keep the concept alive, but the symbolism of the green, white and orange dates from 1848.

Saint Patrick's Cross

he Ireland Webring is a place for any and all "Irish" websites.  It symbolizes the diverse nature of the Irish people, culture, history, legends, music, humor, politics, religion, & tradition - ancient or modern.  If your site fits somewhere in this description - you're more than welcome here.  Fáilte!

For such a small landmass on the western edge of Europe, Ireland has had a huge impact on the wider world. In the last two centuries alone Ireland has witnessed a major famine which decimated its population and produced one of the largest emigrant waves ever to leave Europe. The Irish diaspora is now integrated into countless nations across the globe. Their impact on their new homes has been immense, yet any effects that they have had are always tempered by the links with 'home'. Ireland has given the world some of the most important literature of the modern era, such as the works of Joyce and Yeats, and, in these days of globalization and mass culture, the impact of its popular music has been equally profound. Finally, in the last thirty years, the island of Ireland has been the location of a struggle between the forces of nationalism and unionism which has cost countless lives, a conflict which has been played out in front of the world's media, and yet is one which has been difficult to end.

Sláinte!
Keith