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Northern Ireland has not had its own unique government sanctioned flag since 1972, when its government was prorogued. Due to the division of the population along religious and political lines, a wide variety of flags can be seen flying from lampposts and private houses across Northern Ireland.

The Flag of the Government of Northern Ireland

The "Ulster Banner" was the official name given to the Northern Ireland flag (a St. George's cross defaced with a red hand, a six pointed star, and a crown), which is seen today as Northern Ireland's de facto unique flag. This flag is commonly referred to, especially by unionists, as the "Red Hand Flag" or as the "Ulster Flag" (not to be confused with the provincial Flag of Ulster). 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 1972, this 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 government sanction when the Parliament of Northern Ireland was dissolved by the British government in 1972.

The flag is based on the ancient provincial flag of Ulster. The open thumb on this flag (compared to the closed thumb on the provincial flag) is thought to be present to differentiate between the six counties of Northern Ireland and the nine counties of the province of Ulster. The yellow background became white, to more closely resemble the flag of England. The crown symbolises the loyalty of Ulster unionists to the British Monarchy. There is a dispute as to the meaning of the star, with some maintaining it is the Star of David, and others say it represents the six counties that make up Northern Ireland.

Despite the current lack of governmental sanction, 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. It is regularly displayed by fans of the Northern Ireland football team, and the Ulster rugby team. Some Ulster rugby supporters also display the Flag of Ulster.

The flag is still, somewhat controversially, used to represent the region at the Commonwealth Games and UEFA competitions.

Displaying the flag

In Northern Ireland, each community uses its own flags to declare its allegiance and mark its 'territory', often in a manner that is deliberately provocative. Thus it is the "Ulster Banner" and the Union Flag that are flown by unionists, while the tricolour is often used to represent nationalist defiance.

Under the 1998 Belfast Agreement, flags continue to be a source of disagreement in Northern Ireland. The Agreement states that:

All participants acknowledge the sensitivity of the use of symbols and emblems for public purposes, and the need in particular in creating the new institutions to ensure that such symbols and emblems are used in a manner which promotes mutual respect rather than division.

Nationalists have pointed to this to argue that the use of the Union Flag for official purposes should be restricted, or that the tricolour should be flown alongside the British flag on government buildings. However all signatories to the Agreement also declare their acceptance of the "principle of consent" (i.e. that there will be no change to the constitutional position of Northern Ireland unless a majority votes for it), and unionists argue that this provision amounts to recognising that the Union Flag is the only legitimate official flag in Northern Ireland.

Nonetheless some level of compromise has been achieved. The Union Flag is no longer flown over Parliament Buildings and state offices except on a limited number of 'named days' (honouring, for example Queen Elizabeth II's official birthday). One exception is Lisburn, where the council has decided to fly the Union Flag every day of the year.

A new flag?

Main article: Northern Ireland flags issue

Although the idea of a new flag for Northern Ireland has been discussed from time to time, it has little popular support, as most unionists and loyalists do not wish to see Northern Ireland's links with Britain and the Crown undermined. Similarly, many nationalists and republicans do not recognise Northern Ireland as a viable separate entity, and therefore, see no reason for it to have any symbols.

External links

• FOTW: Northern Ireland
• CAIN: Flags in Northern Ireland
• Flagging concern: the controversy over flags and emblems
• Tension over flag flying at BBC News
• Flag of Northern Ireland Flash animation of Northern Ireland flag make up

• Flags of the United Kingdom
• Northern Ireland