In honour of Saint Patrick’s Day, here’s a brief history of the Irish flag:
The flag of Ireland is a simple vertical tricolour of green, white, and orange. It was adopted in 1937.
Since time immemorial, the "Emerald Isle" has been, fittingly, associated with the colour green. From the 1640s to the early 20th Century, the unofficial flag of Ireland was green with a golden harp.
Following the Irish Rebellion of 1798, Ireland was divided between the Catholic-majority republicans, who wanted Ireland to be an independent nation, and the Protestant-majority unionists, who wanted Ireland to remain a part of the United Kingdom.
The tricolour symbolizes the hope for peace between the two factions: green for Catholics, orange for Protestants, and white for a truce between them.
The flag gained popularity among republicans following the Easter Rebellion of 1916, and was the de facto flag of the Irish Free State following the Irish Civil War. It was officially adopted along with the new Irish constitution in 1937.
With Ireland still partitioned, and the north and south divided by both religion and politics, it is unclear if the island will be unified again any time soon. The flag remains a symbol of hope for a united and peaceful Ireland.
