| Revision as of 23:33, 8 January 2005 editJimJim (talk | contribs)27 edits Am in the process of re-writing this entire article with full information and histories on the most widely used flags of both communities← Previous edit | Revision as of 23:35, 8 January 2005 edit undoJimJim (talk | contribs)27 editsm presentationNext edit → | ||
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| The only ''official'' '''] of ]''' is the ] of the ]. Due to the division of the population along religious and political lines, a wide variety of flags can be seen flying from lamposts and private houses. | The only ''official'' '''] of ]''' is the ] of the ]. Due to the division of the population along religious and political lines, a wide variety of flags can be seen flying from lamposts and private houses. | ||
| =Unionist Flags= | |||
| ==The Red Hand Flag== | ==The Red Hand Flag== | ||
Revision as of 23:35, 8 January 2005
The only official flag of Northern Ireland is the Union Flag of the United Kingdom. Due to the division of the population along religious and political lines, a wide variety of flags can be seen flying from lamposts and private houses.
The Red Hand Flag
The St. George's cross defaced with the red hand, a six pointed star, and the crown, is the flag most foreigners associate with Northern Ireland. Presently, it does not have any official sanction.
In 1924 the Government of Northern Ireland was granted arms by Royal Warrant and had the right to display these arms on a flag or banner. This right was exercised for the Coronation in 1953. Between 1953 and 1973, the so-called "Red Hand Flag" was the arms of the Government of Northern Ireland and commonly used during this period as a de facto civil flag. It ceased to have official sanction when the Stormont Assembly was dissolved.
Despite this, the flag is used extensively within the Unionist community, along with the Union Flag. The Unionist community also fly a number of modified "Red Hand" banners; versions which place the Union Flag in the Canton, and one superimposes both the red hand and the outline of a map of Northern Ireland on the Union Flag.
The red hand flag is still, somewhat controversial, used to represent the province at the Commonwealth Games.
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