FOR MANY PEOPLE, their nation’s flag is a symbol of pride. It represents their country’s traditions, heritage and values. But this patriotism can sometimes manifest into a distorted form of nationalism whereby the flag is used to subjugate and exclude.
In Ireland, the misappropriation of the tricolour by the far-right has already shifted attitudes towards displaying the flag, and in Northern Ireland, flags have long been used as territory markers.
National symbols have emerged as one of the more sensitive topics in the debate on a united Ireland, but given this island’s history, and the weaponisation of flags, the case for a new flag for a new Ireland has never been stronger.
The tricolour was officially adopted as the national flag of Ireland in 1922. It is in fact one of Ireland’s youngest flags; previous flags such as green harp flag have been in use since 1642.
Originally a gift to Ireland from France designed to represent peace between the island’s two dominant traditions, the tricolour became the national symbol of a partitioned state.
In Dublin, it was raised to represent an independent government free from British rule, while Irish citizens in Northern Ireland continued to experience degradation and hostility toward their Irish identity.
Shedding baggage
Over this summer, lampposts across Dublin’s inner city have been adorned with tricolours, just as British flags flood the streets of Northern Ireland for the twelfth of July – a period of unchecked illegal flag flying that now typically runs from May through to September.
The wanton display of the Union flag in Northern Ireland is intimidation under the guise of patriotism, and the far-right’s use of the tricolour in shared public spaces in areas such as Colook and Finglas is right out of the fascist playbook. This isn’t about national pride – it is about exclusion.
Dublin City Council is in talks with the gardaí on next steps as Ireland’s capital struggles to come to grips with a problem Northern Ireland has faced for a century.
Rather than focus on the misuse of flags by anti-immigrant groups, the council might be better using its time and resources to address the socioeconomic deprivation providing fertile ground for the far-right to proliferate in communities.
The meaning of a flag is influenced by who holds it, and who the intended audience is. In Northern Ireland the tricolour is set alight in an annual display of hate on some of the most contentious twelfth of July bonfires, while those from a unionist tradition could rightly or wrongly associate the tricolour directly with the IRA following its use during the Troubles.
For some, the tricolour could be perceived as a flag of partition – for others, it could now be seen as a political symbol for anti-immigrant sentiments. Why would we foist a flag that has this much baggage onto a newly — and, for the first time, truly — independent country?
A new flag for a new future
Changing national symbols is a natural process that many countries have experienced, and there are several examples to learn from. New Zealand held a two-stage referendum, first to select the most popular design and then to select whether the new flag would replace the current flag.
The process involved is worth considering in the context of Ireland; members of the public were invited to submit designs, and a selection panel was established to narrow down the options, five of which then went to the first-stage public referendum. South Africa, Myanmar, Syria, have changed their flags with the latter returning to the 1932 flag of independence following the overthrow of the Assad regime.
Rather than see the idea of changing the Irish flag as a compromise, we should see it as an opportunity. I support changing the flag, not because I want to appeal to unionists but because I want a new national symbol for me — a flag that represents the Ireland of the future, not the past.
A national symbol
Changing the flag is not something you undertake before independence, but committing to holding a referendum in the event of reunification is a sensible step toward responsible planning for our shared future. Between now and then, let’s open our minds to the possibility of change.
With a rich history of music, and folklore Ireland has no shortage of options when it comes to possible designs whether it’s the harp, the four provinces, the shamrock, against the presidential blue or the historical green.
Polling from the ARINS project demonstrated a marked drop in support for a united Ireland among Southern respondents when changing the flag was on the table, with almost half of respondents less likely to vote ‘yes’. Northern Ireland respondents were more likely to support changing the flag.
Ultimately what is more important: a century-old flag or the reunification of this island and its people? In the often-over-quoted words of John Humes’ father, “You can’t eat a flag”.
Emma DeSouza is a writer and campaigner.
