This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 82.43.55.44 (talk) at 22:28, 30 May 2004 (not to be confused with flag of Ulster, still seen at Commonwealth Games). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 22:28, 30 May 2004 by 82.43.55.44 (talk) (not to be confused with flag of Ulster, still seen at Commonwealth Games)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Northern Ireland currently has no flag of its own. The Union Jack is used instead.
From 1953 to 1973 Northern Ireland used a flag, called the 'The Red Hand Flag of Ulster', showing a red St. George's cross on white (like the Flag of England), with a crowned six-pointed white star showing a red hand. This should not be confused with traditional flag of Ulster, which is the name of a province of Ireland comprising nine counties, as opposed to the six counties of Northern Ireland. This is a red cross on yellow, with the red hand inside a white shield in the centre.
As this flag is associated with the unionists and loyalists, it has no chance of being reintroduced, although it is displayed at the Commonwealth Games. Nationalists and republicans use the Irish tricolour, arging that as they do not recognise Northern Ireland as a separate political entity, they see no grounds for it having a flag of its own.