List of flags of Ireland

This article is about flags used in Ireland. For the flag of the Republic of Ireland, see Flag of Ireland.

This is a list of flags which have been, or are still today, used in Ireland.

Island of Ireland

The following flags have been used to represent the island of Ireland as a whole, either officially or unofficially.

FlagDateUseDescription
1177–1541 Banner of the Lordship of Ireland, the part of Ireland under the rule of the King of England, styled Lord of Ireland. Three crowns on a blue field with a white border.
1542–1801 Standard of the Kingdom of Ireland. From 1801 has been incorporated in the lower-left quadrant of the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom A silver stringed gold harp on a blue field.
1801–1922 Flag of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland The flag of the United Kingdom defaced with the coat of arms of Ireland.
??–present St. Patrick's Saltire, also known as the Cross of St Patrick, after the patron saint of Ireland. The flag appears within the Union Flag now the official flag of the United Kingdom. It is used by some Unionists, the Church of Ireland and is incorporated into symbols and emblems of various organisations and bodies throughout Ireland. A red saltire on a white field.

 ??-present The green harp flag of the 17th century Confederacy of Ireland and an unofficial flag of Ireland during the 18th and 19th century. Variants have been used as the basis for numerous flags of Ireland. A silver stringed gold harp on a green field.
1916–present Flag of Ireland A tricolour, with three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white and orange.
??–present The Four Provinces flag. This flag, and variants of it, have been used by various all-Ireland sports teams and cultural organisations. The arms of the four provinces of Ireland are shown in quadrants. The order in which the arms appear varies.

Northern Ireland

FlagDateUseDescription
1922–1973 Personal flag of the Governor of Northern Ireland. A Union Jack defaced with the Coat of arms of Northern Ireland.
1953–1972 The Ulster Banner, also known as the Ulster flag or the Red Hand of Ulster flag, was the flag of the Government of Northern Ireland between 1953 and 1972. It is still used to represent Northern Ireland in some sporting events in which Northern Ireland competes. The flag is a heraldic banner taken from the coat of arms granted in 1924 which is based on the flag of England and the flag of Ulster, with the addition of a crown to symbolise the loyalty of Ulster unionists to the British Monarchy. As with the flag of Ulster, it contains the Red Hand of Ulster at the centre. The six pointed star represents the six counties that make up Northern Ireland.
1929–1973 Ensign of the former Northern Ireland government. The blue ensign defaced with the letters GNI. Used on vessels of the Northern Ireland government.

Republic of Ireland

FlagDateUseDescription
1922–present Flag of Ireland A tricolour, with three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white and orange; (the green symbolises Nationalism, the white Peace and the orange Unionism, therefore the flag represents peace between Nationalists and Unionists). This is the flag and naval ensign of Ireland.
1937–present Standard of the President of Ireland A silver stringed gold harp on a blue field.

Defence Forces flags

Naval Service

FlagDateUseDescription
1946–present Naval Jack of Ireland A silver stringed gold harp on a green field. This is the naval jack of the Naval Service of Ireland and flown alongside the tricolor when ships are at anchor, moored, alongside or when under way and dressed with masthead ensigns.
1996–present Naval Service Colour Flag Double-sided square banner. The primary colour is navy blue on both sides. The obverse side carries the Defence Forces badge at the centre superimposed over a pair of crossed silver foul anchors. The colour is bordered by a two inch wide gold fringe Naval Service (Ireland).
1996–present Naval Service Colour Flag Double-sided square banner. The primary colour is navy blue on both sides. A navy blue flag containing the state harp at its centre surrounded by a naval knotted rope decoration.Naval Service (Ireland).

Air Corps

FlagDateUseDescription
Ireland Air Corps Flag Composed of Red and yellow diagonal strips on a blue field with the emblem of Irish Air Corps at its centre, the emblem of Irish Defence forces on upper left and the Air Corps roundel on bottom right. This is the flag of the Irish Air Corps.

Army

FlagDateUseDescription
1st Brigade Defence Forces Flag The primary colours are blue and yellow with the defence forces badge in top corner. In the centre is the Emblem of the 1st brigade surrounded by oglaigh na hEireann and An Cead Briogaid. This is the flag of the 1st Brigade (Ireland).
2nd Brigade Defence Forces Flag The primary colours are blue and green with the defense forces badge in top corner. In the centre is the Emblem of the 2nd brigade surrounded by oglaigh na hEireann and An Dara Briogaid. This is the flag of the 2nd Brigade.
Air Defense Regiment Flag Composed of an orange flag with a purple emblem of Air Defense Regiment at its centre.
Defence Forces Infantry Flag Purple banner with two crossed rifles at its centre with the word coiste(Infantry) underneath, this is the flag of the Infantry Corps (Ireland) .
Defence Forces Ordnance Corps Flag A dark red colour flag containing the insignia of the Ordnance corps at its centre.
Defence Forces Cavalry Corps Flag A black background flag containing the emblem of the Cavalry corps at its centre, this is the flag of the Cavalry Corps (Ireland).
Defence Forces Engineer Corps Flag A Yellow coloured background flag containing the emblem of the Engineer corps at its centre, this is the flag of the Engineer Corps (Ireland).
Defence Forces Communications and Information Services Corps (CIS) Flag Blue background flag containing the emblem of the CIS corps at its centre, this is the flag of Communication and Information Services Corps.
Defence Forces Artillery Corps Flag Orange flag with white border containing the emblem of the Artillery corps at its centre, this is the flag of the Artillery Corps (Ireland).
Defence Forces Medical Corps Flag Teal coloured flag with white border containing the emblem of the medical corps at its centre.

Defence Force Training Centre (DFTC)

FlagDateUseDescription
Defence Forces Cadet School Colours A Sunburst colour flag on a dark blue background containing a sword through its centre. Overhead the motto 'An Ród So Romham'.
Defence Forces Training Centre Flag A navy and red colour flag containing the emblem of the DFTC at its centre.

Defence Forces Overseas and Organisations

FlagDateUseDescription
Defence Forces Ireland Contingent UNMEE Flag Purple coloured flag containing the emblem of the Defence forces of Ireland at its centre.
Defence Forces Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen Flag Blue background flag containing an altered emblem of the Defence forces of Ireland at its centre, this is the flag of Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen.

Coast Guard

FlagDateUseDescription
Coast Guard Flag White background flag containing the emblem of the coast guard at its centre, this is the flag of the Irish Coast Guard.

Provincial flags

FlagDateUseDescription
Flag of Ulster

The arms of the nine-county province of Ulster form a composite achievement, combining the heraldic symbols of two of that province’s best known families, namely the cross of de Burgo and the dexter hand of O Neill (Ua Néill, later Ó Néill) Kings of Ailech and Tír Eoghan.

Flag of Munster

The province of Munster has been heraldically symbolised by three golden antique crowns on an azure blue shield. A crown of the type now known as antique Irish forms an integral element of a thirteenth-century crozier head found near Cormac’s Chapel on the Rock of Cashel. In the case of the ‘king-bishops’ of Cashel, the placing of the antique crown on their crozier was a symbolic assertion of their right to the political sovereignty of Munster.

Flag of Connacht

The arms of Connacht use a dimidiated (divided in half from top to bottom) eagle and armed hand. Ruaidhri O'Conchobhair, King of Connacht, is surmised to have been conceded the arms of Schottenkloster or the Irish monastery founded in Regensburg, which approximate to the Connacht Flag of 1651

Flag of Leinster

A silver stringed golden harp on a green background. Possibly the oldest and certainly the most celebrated instance of the use of the harp device on a green field was the flag of Owen Roe O’Neill. It is recorded that his ship, the St Francis, as she lay at anchor at Dunkirk, flew from her mast top ‘the Irish harp in a green field, in a flag’.

Flag of Mide

The old province of Mide (Meath), comprising the present-day counties of Meath and Westmeath, and parts of others, was heraldically personified by a representation of a royal personage seated on a throne on an azure field. The arms of Mide were apparently used at one time as the arms of Ireland.

County flags

Coat of
Arms		 County Irish name[1] Province GAA Flag Colours

The 32 "traditional" counties

Antrim Aontroim
(Contae Aontroma)		 Ulster
Armagh Ard Mhacha
(Contae Ard Mhacha)		 Ulster
Carlow Ceatharlach
(Contae Cheatharlach)		 Leinster
Cavan An Cabhán
(Contae an Chabháin)		 Ulster
Clare An Clár
(Contae an Chláir)		 Munster
Cork Corcaigh
(Contae Chorcaí)		 Munster
Donegal Dún na nGall
(Contae Dhún na nGall)		 Ulster
Down An Dún
(Contae an Dúin)		 Ulster
Dublin Áth Cliath
(Contae Átha Cliath)		 Leinster
Fermanagh Fear Manach
(Contae Fhear Manach)		 Ulster
Galway Gaillimh
(Contae na Gaillimhe)		 Connacht  
Kerry Ciarraí
(Contae Chiarraí)		 Munster
Kildare Cill Dara
(Contae Chill Dara)		 Leinster
Kilkenny Cill Chainnigh
(Contae Chill Chainnigh)		 Leinster
Laois Laois
(Contae Laoise)		 Leinster
Leitrim Liatroim
(Contae Liatroma)		 Connacht
Limerick Luimneach
(Contae Luimnigh)		 Munster
Londonderry[2] Doire
(Contae Dhoire)		 Ulster
Longford An Longfort
(Contae an Longfoirt)		 Leinster
Louth Lú
(Contae Lú)		 Leinster
Mayo Maigh Eo
(Contae Mhaigh Eo)		 Connacht
Meath An Mhí
(Contae na Mí)		 Leinster
Monaghan Muineachán
(Contae Mhuineacháin)		 Ulster
Offaly Uíbh Fhailí
(Contae Uíbh Fhailí)		 Leinster
Roscommon Ros Comáin
(Contae Ros Comáin)		 Connacht
Sligo Sligeach
(Contae Shligigh)		 Connacht
Tipperary Tiobraid Árann
(Contae Thiobraid Árann)		 Munster
Tyrone Tír Eoghain
(Contae Thír Eoghain)		 Ulster
Waterford Port Láirge
(Contae Phort Láirge)		 Munster
Westmeath An Iarmhí
(Contae na hIarmhí)		 Leinster
Wexford Loch Garman
(Contae Loch Garman)		 Leinster
Wicklow Cill Mhantáin
(Contae Chill Mhantáin)		 Leinster

City and town flags

FlagDateUseDescription
Flag of Dublin, the capital city of the Republic of Ireland
Flag of Belfast, the capital city of Northern Ireland
Flag of Drogheda, County Louth A vertical black band between two vertical red bands with the town's coat of arms in the centre.

Sporting flags

FlagDateUseDescription
1925–present Flag of the Irish Rugby Football Union The arms of the four provinces of Ireland emblazoned on a green flag with a shamrock crest at its centre
Flag of the Ireland national field hockey team The four Provinces Crest of Ireland emblazoned on a green and white flag
Flag of the Ireland cricket team Three shamrocks on a blue background.
1911–present Flag of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association The four provinces crest of Ireland in the centre of a white flag

Ensigns

FlagDateUseDescription
circa 1701 - post 1800 A Green Ensign flown by some Irish merchant vessels. A gold harp on a green background with the English Flag in the canton.
post 1800 - c.1922 A later version of the Green Ensign. A gold harp on a green field with the Union Flag in the canton.
Ensign of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland A light blue field with the Irish flag in the canton and a wavy set of stripes in the fly.
Ensign of the National Yacht Club An azure blue field with a silver harp and the Flag of Ireland in the canton.
Ensign of the Royal Ulster Yacht Club. The blue ensign defaced with the Red Hand of Ulster and St Edward's Crown.

Historical military flags

FlagDateUseDescription
1684–1922 Flag of the Royal Irish Regiment (1684–1922) of the British Army. Also known as the 18th (Royal Irish) Regiment of Foot and the 18th (The Royal Irish) Regiment of Foot
1688–1791 Flag carried in different variations by the Irish Brigade of the French Army red and green cross, with motto "In Hoc Signo Vinces"
1710–1815 Flag of the Regiment of Hibernia aka the "O'Neill's Regiment" of the Spanish Army
1793–1881 Flag of the 86th (Royal County Down) Regiment of Foot of the British Army
1798 Flag carried by the United Irishmen at the Battle of ArklowGreen background with white Christian cross and the slogan "Liberty or Death".
1846–1848 The green silk flag of the Saint Patrick's Battalion of the Mexican Army may have incorporated the old Irish Harp flag (illustrated), which may date back to the Irish Confederacy. However, no original depictions are extant, and period descriptions of it differ. Green background with Irish Harp, shamrocks and Motto Erin Go Bragh in Gold
1861–1864 Color of the 28th Massachusetts Infantry regiment of the Irish Brigade (U.S.) of the Union Army Green background with Irish Harp and motto Faugh a Ballagh (Clear the Way!)
1861–1864 2d Irish Color of the 69th Infantry Regiment (New York) of the Irish Brigade (U.S.) of the Union Army Green background with Irish Harp

University flags

FlagDateUseDescription
Flag of Queen's University Belfast A flag of the University's coat of arms.

Organisations

FlagDateUseDescription
Flag of the Irish Traveller Movement
Flag of the Orange Order, a Protestant fraternal organisation based mainly in Northern Ireland, though it has lodges throughout the Commonwealth and a small number in the Republic of Ireland. An orange field with a purple star and a St George's Cross in the canton.
Flag of the Apprentice Boys of Derry, a Protestant fraternal organisation based in Derry City, Northern Ireland. A crimson field.

 1858 Flags used by the Fenian Brotherhood which was founded in Dublin on St Patrick’s Day 1858. Two flags used in the past by the Fenian Brotherhood. The first Flag is based on the American ‘Stars and Stripes’ It has four bars representing the provinces of Ireland and 32 stars representing the counties.

The second flag is a green banner defaced with 32 gold stars to represent the Irish counties. It was captured from the Fenians during the Battle of Tallaght, 1867.

1932–1933 Historical flag of the Blueshirts paramilitary group, associated with Fine Gael. It bore the St. Patrick's Saltire defacing a dark blue background. A red saltire on a blue field.
2013- Flag of Vexillology Ireland A gold harp on a blue field with the international symbol for Vexillology at the hoist.

Other flags

FlagDateUseDescription
1800s Earlier version of the Sunburst flag. A golden rising sun on a green field. This device was adopted by the Fenians in 1843, supposedly based on earlier Nationalist flags. It can be seen in the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin.
1893–present The Sunburst flag, based on the flag of the mythological warriors the Fianna. Blue background with a golden sunburst showing partially in the bottom left corner. Used by nationalists and republicans.
1914–present The original Starry Plough flag from 1914 and flown during the Easter Rising. Silver stars overlaying a yellow plough on a green background.
1910s–present The starry plough flag that succeeded the starry plough banner. Used by socialists, nationalists and republicans. White stars on a light blue background.
1916 The Irish Republic proclamation flag, flown alongside the Irish tricolour over the GPO during the Easter Rising. A green flag with the inscription "Irish Republic".

See also

References

  1. ↑ Gasaitéar na hÉireann / Gazetteer of Ireland. Dublin: Brainse Logainmneacha na Suirbhéireachta Ordanáis / Placenames Branch of the Ordnance Survey. 1989. ISBN 978-0-7076-0076-5.
  2. ↑ Londonderry is often called Derry – see Derry-Londonderry name dispute

External links