Ulster Banner

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This article is about the Flag of Northern Ireland. For the traditional provincial flag of Ulster, see Flag of Ulster.
The Ulster Banner (Edwardian Crown version following coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953)

The Ulster Banner[1] is a heraldic banner taken from the coat of arms of Northern Ireland, consisting of "Argent a cross gules, overall on a six pointed star of the field ensigned by an Imperial crown proper a dexter hand couped at the wrist of the second". It was the flag of the former Government of Northern Ireland and common flag of Northern Ireland from 1953 following the coronation celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II, when it was flown for the first time over Parliament Buildings in honour of the Queen's visit. Also during the Queen's visit, on July 1, 1953, the Minister for Home Affairs announced that, while the Union flag was the only standard officially recognised, those who wished to have a distinctive Ulster symbol might use the banner.[2] The Northern Ireland government was granted a royal warrant for the flag and arms in 1924, which was in effect until that government was abolished in 1972. Since then, the Ulster Banner has had no official status and is not used by the current Northern Ireland government or by the British government.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] However, the Ulster Banner is still in common use by loyalists/unionists, and to represent Northern Ireland internationally in some sporting competitions. It has become a symbol of Ulster loyalism[12] and is a contentious symbol.[7]

Origin

Arms of the former government of Northern Ireland, 1922–1972
Original Tudor Crown version of flag based on escutcheon of arms granted royal warrant in 1924
Traditional Flag of Ulster

The arms and flag were designed in Dublin by Ulster King of Arms Neville-Rodwell Wilkinson in 1923-1924. The flag is based on the flag of the traditional province of Ulster,[13] including a red hand of Ulster in the centre, and the red de Burgh cross[14] (though some claim this is the Saint George's Cross[15]). It has the addition of a crown to represent the monarchy of the United Kingdom. Rather than a shield, the Red Hand is inside a six pointed star, representing the six counties that make up Northern Ireland.

The flag is also sometimes called the Ulster flag,[16] Northern Ireland flag, the (old) Stormont flag, or the Red Hand of Ulster flag.[17] Loyalists often use 'Ulster' as another name for Northern Ireland, and Stormont was the seat of Northern Ireland's government.

History

Use by the Government of Northern Ireland

In 1924, the Government of Northern Ireland was granted its own coat of arms by Royal Warrant and had the right to display these arms on a flag or banner. This right was exercised for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. From 1953 until 1972, the flag was used officially by the Government of Northern Ireland and also as a de facto civic flag for Northern Ireland. In 1972, the Government and Parliament of Northern Ireland were abolished by the Parliament of the United Kingdom under the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973.

Later use

Since the Government of Northern Ireland was abolished in 1972, the flag (and variations thereof) has continued to be used by unionists. In 2004, Belfast City Council commissioned a study on the flying of flags which noted that the Ulster Banner continued to be flown, alongside the Union flag, by three unionist-controlled local authorities in Northern Ireland: Ards Borough Council, Carrickfergus Borough Council and Castlereagh Borough Council.[18]

International sport

File:£2 Commonwealth Games NI-issue.jpg
Royal Mint issue of a £2 coin featuring the Northern Ireland flag for the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

The Ulster Banner is used to represent Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games[19][20] and by FIFA to represent the Northern Ireland national football team.[21]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ McCartney, Clem & Bryson, Lucy. Clashing Symbols? A report on the use of flags, anthems and other national symbols in Northern Ireland. The Institute for Irish Studies, Queen's University of Belfast, 1994, p 42 ISBN 085 389 538 4
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Promoting Fair Play in Sport. Sport Northern Ireland. p. 9. Archived April 7, 2013 at the Wayback Machine "Many existing flags have no official status and this includes the former Northern Ireland ‘flag’ (or flag of the Executive Committee of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland or Ulster Banner)".
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ CRW Flags of the World - Northern Ireland (United Kingdom)
  14. ↑ CRW Flags -- Northern Ireland (United Kingdom)
  15. ↑ CAIN: Symbols – Flags Used in Northern Ireland
  16. ↑ Lords Hansard text for 13 Jul 200613 July 2006 (pt 0947)
  17. ↑ http://www.limavady.gov.uk/filestore/documents/good_relations/Web_Questionnaire.pdf
  18. ↑ http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/equality/docs/FlyingOfUnionFlagEQIA.pdf Archived March 26, 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  19. ↑ Commonwealth Games Federation Archived July 13, 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  20. ↑ Telegraph Archived April 6, 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ↑ Northern Ireland: Country information, FIFA.com
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