Irish Flag

History of the Irish Flag

In his election speech on the 19th of February 1848, Thomas Francis Meagher, a leader of the Young Ireland Confederate Club movement stated:

"...what strength have I to beat my way towards that bold headland, upon which I have sworn to plant the flag I have rescued from the wreck?"

In this speech Meagher outlined his dream for a New Ireland. He spoke of rescuing the flag from the wreck that was the sectarian Old Ireland where Irish Catholics and Protestants were at odds. Meagher created a new flag to symbolise a new hope for unity between the two sides in a country that was desecrated by the Great Famine (p92. Cavanagh 1892).

The Irish Tricolour flag was first flown publicly by Meagher in his native city at the Wolf Tone Confederate Club at 33 The Mall, Waterford City on March 7th 1848. The national media reported on this in 1998, 150 years after the flag was first raised.

Thomas Francis Meagher Bust alongside the Waterford Civic Trust Blue Plaque
commemorating the Irish Tricolour's first flight at 33 The Mall, Waterford City

Meagher travelled to France in April of 1848 and on his return, at a meeting in Dublin on the 15th of April he presented a fabulous version of the Tricolor made from the finest French silk to the citizens of Ireland. He said:
“...I trust that the old country will not refuse this symbol of a new life from one of her youngest children. I need not explain its meaning. The quick and passionate intellect of the generation now springing into arms will catch it at a glance. The white in the centre signifies a lasting truce between the "orange" and the "green" and I trust that beneath its folds, the hands of the Irish Protestant and the Irish Catholic may be clasped in generous and heroic brotherhood..." 
Soon after Meagher was part of the Young Irelanders 1848 Famine Rebellion. He was arrested and accused of high treason. On the 16th of July, just before his trial, he visited the sublime Slievenamon in Co. Tipperary and gave a speech to 50,000 people. Meagher, decorated with a fabulous Tricolour Sash fulfilled his February promise and baptised the country with his new flag saying these words:
"...he [O'Connell] preached a cause that we are bound to see out. He used to say "I may not see what I have labored for I am an old man my arm is withered no epitaph of victory may mark my grave but I see a young generation with redder blood in their veins, and they will do the work." Therefore it is that I ambition to decorate these hills with the flag of my country."
The Irish Tricolour has inspired generations of Irish people since its conception in 1848. Although the flag didn’t see the light of day again until it was raised above the GPO in 1916, so poignant was its symbolism that its message still prevailed over half a century later, as it does today. The tricolour was eventually recognised as Ireland’s national flag in 1937.

Flag Variations

The 1848 arrangement of the Irish Tricolour, Notice the orange element is to the left.


A representation of the flag presented to Dublin in 1848, which had the red hand of Ulster on the white stripe.


Often the orange is misrepresented by gold. This is incorrect and does not do justice to the original meaning of the flag.


This is the current version of the flag. It was adopted by the Republic in 1919 and then officially by the state in 1937.

Ha'penny Bridge

Ha'penny Bridge

Up to 1816, the year the Ha'penny Bridge was erected, no other bridge existed between Essex (Grattan or Capel Street) Bridge and Carlisle (O'Connell) Bridge.
There was a ferry from the Bagnio Slip (at the bottom of Fownes Street) operated by one William Walsh. He owned seven leaky ferries and was under pressure from Dublin Corporation to repair them or replace them. He baulked at that idea, preferring instead to build a bridge. His proposal to Dublin Corporation was adopted and he was allowed in a hundred year lease to charge a halfpenny toll.

Designed by John Windsor and costing £3,894.7s.11½d., the bridge was manufactured in Coalbrookdale in Shropshire, the first centre of iron casting in Britain. Now one of the oldest cast-iron bridges in the world it was originally named Wellington Bridge, after the Dublin born duke who had trounced Napoleon. Offically called the Liffey Bridge, it is more commonly known as the Halfpenny or Ha'penny Bridge.

The bridge was the only pedestrian bridge on the Liffey until the new Millenium bridge opened in 2000. In 2001, the Ha'penny bridge was closed in 2001 for major repair. It was reopened 2003 with its original paint colour restored and changes made at the ends to allow standing room for pedestrians before crossing the road.



Picture from Dublin Tourist Information.



Phil Lynott recorded his music video "Old Town showing the bridge.

The Dublin Spire, O’Connell Street, Dublin

The Dublin Spire, O’Connell Street, Dublin



Now that the fuss has died down somewhat over the construction of the Spire, the world's largest sculpture, it might interest readers to know that the famous resident who previously lived on the same site. Admiral Nelson, is still here in Dublin.
Well, part of him is anyway. His head. That is, his stone head, the head that was attached to the rest of his 13 feet tall sculpted image perched atop the pillar.
Those interested can see what remains of the famous head - damaged in an IRA explosion - as part of an exhibition of pictures and text at the Dublin Civic Museum, 58 South William Street. It is a free exhibition and well worth a visit.
Nelson's Pillar was indeed a long-time fixture in Dublin, and if the Spire eventually commands such affection it will have been deemed a huge success.
Many capital dwellers in the over 50's bracket will still talk fondly of the pillar, which was 134 feet 3 inches tall, a structure that towered over the nearby General Post Office.

It was a structure accessible to the people, as unlike The Spire, people could go up a spiral staircase to a viewing balcony and look out over Dublin.
It was perhaps Dublins most famous landmark for 158 years, from the time the foundation stone was laid, on the 15th February 1808, up to the time it was blown in half by the IRA on 8th March,1966, at 1:27am.

During Nelson's time he gazed down on the city during Catholic Emancipation, the Famine, the Land War, the Gaelic Revival, the Easter Rising, the War of independence and the visit of President JFK. He is still missed by some.

Presidents of Ireland

Presidents of Ireland

The Republic of Ireland emerged from a protracted struggle with the British Government during the first half of the nineteenth century, leaving the landmass of 'Ireland' divided into two. Self-government initially returned to Southern Ireland in 1922 when the country became a 'Free State' in the British Commonwealth. Further campaigning followed, and in 1939 the Irish Free State adopted a new constitution, replaced the British monarch with an elected president and became 'Éire', 'Ireland'. Full independence - and complete withdrawal from the British Commonwealth - followed with the declaration of the Republic of Ireland in 1949.
This is a chronological list of the people who have ruled Ireland; the dates given are the periods of said rule.
Presidents
1938 - 1945 Douglas Hyde
1945 - 1959 Sean Thomas O'Kelly
1959 - 1973 Eámon de Valera
1973 - 1974 Erskin Childers
1974 - 1976 Cearbhall O'Dalaigh
1976 - 1990 Patrick Hillery
1990 - 1997 Mary Robinson
1997 - Mary McAleese

2011- Micheal D. Higgins

Michael D Higgins  been inaugurated as the ninth President of Ireland in a ceremony at Dublin Castle.

Picture copright RTE NEWS

Michael D Higgins has been inaugurated as the ninth President of Ireland.
In a colourful ceremony at Dublin Castle, Mr Higgins made his Declaration of Office and received his Presidential Seal from the Chief Justice Mrs Justice Susan Denham.
Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina arrived at Dublin Castle from Farmleigh House in the Phoenix Park with an Army motorcycle escort just before 11.45am.
They entered the historic St Patrick's Hall and took their place on the platform - surrounded by the Taoiseach, Government Ministers and the Council of State, including former Presidents Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese.
After an inter-faith service and a humanist reflection, Mr Higgins made the Declaration of Office in Irish - promising to maintain the Constitution and uphold its laws.
He then received his Seal of Office.
During the ceremony, Taoiseach Enda Kenny described Mr Higgins as a "noble man of quiet virtue" who would be a President for all the people.
In his first address as Uachtaráin na hÉireann, Mr Higgins said the Irish people have the capacity to transcend the present difficulties.
He said we have been left wounded as a society, but he said people wanted to move on to a new chapter based on a new sense of Irishness.
1,700 guests were invited to a State reception at Dublin Castle tonight to celebrate the inauguration.

Irish Rock Music Throughout The Decades

For a small country Ireland has made and continues to make a huge impact on modern music. Homegrown rock music in Ireland really started developing in the 1960s. At that time the Irish music scene was dominated by the unique Irish phenomenon of the 'Showbands' which were groups of professional performers who played at dancehalls and clubs across the country putting on a professional 'show' and playing all the American and British hits of the era. In the 1960s this was pretty much the only way a professional musician in Ireland could make a living.
 Two famous Irish artists that started off working in showbands but went on to put Ireland on the map as far as rock music is concerned are Van Morrison and Rory Gallagher. Van Morrison achieved international success in the 1960s with the beat group Them before launching a very successfull solo career that is still going strong in it's fourth decade. Rory Gallagher fromed the blues rock trio Taste and went on to achieve critical acclaim in his solo career which lasted until his death in 1995. He is considered by many music critics to be among the greatest rock guitarists of all time.
The early 70s saw a huge growth of Irish rock music and one band that rose to international prominence was the hard rocking Thin Lizzy led by Phil Lynott Another Irish band, Horslips broke new ground by mixing hard rock with traditional Irish music to create a new genre - Celtic Rock. They also challenged the idea that for an Irish band to be successful they had to leave the country and were the first major rock band to stay based in Ireland instead moving abroad to chase success. They created very original music and were hugely successful in Ireland but never achieved the international success that they deserved but they paved the way for another band that would remain based in Ireland and go on to dominate the music world - U2.
In the mid-70s, with a roots revival of traditional music burgeoning, folk rock fusion groups such as Planxty and Moving Hearts as well as singer-songwriters like Christy Moore and Paul Brady rose to prominence.

Irish currency: a brief history of Ireland's money

The history of Irish currency reflects Ireland's political development over the last 1000 years. What began with the Vikings, who hammered out the very first Irish coins in Dublin in the 10th century, has left us with a marvellous legacy that marks social changes, political propaganda and economic trends. Indeed Irish coins and, more recently, banknotes, are outstanding historical documents.


Replica of the earliest irish coin:
King Sihtric silver penny, Dublin c.1000 AD.
The oldest Irish coins date to the Vikings
The very first Irish coins were struck by the Vikings in Dublin in about 997AD by order of their King Sihtric III, also known as Silkbeard. Until this time, a variety of coinage had circulated in Ireland, including Anglo-Saxon, western European and even Islamic from central Asia.
The new coins were copies of coins issued by King Ethelred II of England. Whenever the Anglo-Saxon king redesigned his coinage over the next two decades, the Vikings issued copy-cat versions.
After the Battle of Clontarf (1014), however, the Irish coin reverted to an earlier design for more than a century.
All the Irish coins produced had a one penny value, and were created (in theory) from a pennyweight of silver (one 240th of a pound weight). Over time, the quality and weight decreased, and the design became less and less legible.

Early medieval Irish currency
The arrival of the Anglo-Normans (1169/1171) introduced dramatic changes to the island, not least by the ceding of power to the English crown of the so-called Lordship of Ireland.
Currency from the period reflects this shift. Under King John (d 1216), Irish coins were struck in Kilkenny, Limerick and Waterford – the first to have been struck outside Dublin – and included silver halfpennies bearing a full frontal face. In the north, too, mintes were created at Downpatrick and Carrickfergus.
Coins minted in Ireland were easily distinguishable from English equivalents. Their inscription was usually specific, and their weight and design were different, too. In the 13th century, a triangle (rather than a circle) enclosed the reigning monarch's head. This occurred only on Irish currency.
14th century: Irish currency disappears
As the power of the Normans waned, mainly due to internal wrangling and external events and catastrophes, Gaelic society reasserted itself. It did not, however, give any priority to a formal money system, and the minting of coins petered out. Between 1310 and 1460, hardly any Irish coins were minted.
A variety of coins circulated, including worn English, Scottish and Irish coins, European tokens and a not-inconsiderable amount of forgeries.

1460 to 1900 in Ireland: money design
A new era for Irish currency began in 1460 when a new coinage was struck. Rather than just the penny coin, there were now a range of denominations, the highest being the groat (value, fourpence). These coins were struck not just in Dublin and the main cities of Cork, Galway and Limerick, but also in smaller regional centres such as Drogheda and Dublin.

Detail of a late 1970s Irish banknote depicting the Celtic Queen Meabh.
In 1979, Ireland broke its link with Sterling and floated on the international money markets. To mark the arrival of this fresh dawn for Irish currency, a new range of notes was issued, each featuring a person from history or mythology. Inscriptions were carried in both English and Irish. The Queen Meabh £1 note was withdrawn in 1990 when the £1 coin was launched.

When the English monarch Henry VIII declared himself King of Ireland in 1531, another new series of Irish coins was launched, this time with the Celtic harp making its first appearance on Irish currency (it still appears on Irish Euro coins).
The story of Irish currency over the next two and a half centuries is one that traces a period of political turmoil.
During the Cromwellian wars, for example, coinage showed little artistry (any old bit of metal was stamped with a date and used to pay troops), while King James II issued a copper coinage made from melted down cannons and church bells.
This latter coinage became known as 'gun money'; its face value had no connection to its metal content and it was quickly removed from circulation after 1690.
In 1800 the Act of Union attached Ireland politically to the rest of Britain. In terms of the country's currency, no impact was felt until 1826 when Ireland's distinctive coins became valueless.
For the next century Ireland had to use standard British sterling, both in coins and banknotes (a late 18th century innovation).

20th century Irish currency
Following its separation from the UK, the Irish Free State issued a new coinage. Some of the designs were to last until the Euro was introduced in 2002. The new Irish coins were quite radical at the time. Other than the harp, there was no obvious symbolism, the coins bearing only images of certain indigenous flora and fauna.

Lady Lavery, Ireland's emblem.

A range of banknotes was also introduced. These were designed by the Belfast-born artist Sir John Lavery and featured his rendition of an archetypal 'colleen'. It later transpired that the portrait was of his wife, Hazel, an American painter!.
The new Irish currency was pegged to sterling and was originally known as the Saorstát, or Free State, pound. After 1938, it became known simply as the Irish pound.
Lavery's notes (known as the A series) were issued on 10 September 1928 and, surviving decimalisation on 15 February 1971, remained in circulation until 1975/1977 when the B series was launched.
The latter featured five banknotes (no £100 note). Queen Maebh, the mythological queen of Connacht featured on the £1 note which was replaced by a coin in 1990 (see box above).
The rest of this series was taken out of circulation between 1989 and 1993 when the C series was introduced.
This final series of Irish pound banknotes was to be quite short-lived. Introduced in 1992/96, it was replaced by the Euro on 1st January 1999.
Initially, this new Irish currency existed only in accounting or cashless form. Irish coins and the C Series banknotes continued to ciculate. For most people, nothing appeared to have happened.
In September 1999 production of Irish euro coins began. Nine months later banknotes hit the presses.
By this time an intense period of education had begun to prepare the population for the final days of the Irish pound. Every household in Ireland was issued with an electronic converter and a Euro Handbook, and the final changeover to the new currency – on 1st January 2002 – went surprisingly smoothly. An estimated 85% of all public cash dispensers were issuing Euro by the end of the first day and within a week, nearly 90% of cash transactions were being carried out in Euro. .

A selection of Irish banknotes
from the 20th century

A Series, 10 Shilling note, featuring Lady Hazel Lavery.



B Series, £20, featuring poet and dramatist William Butler Yeats.



C Series, £20, featuring Daniel O'Connell, the Liberator.

The Great Irish Recession vs The Great Irish Famine

The Great Irish Recession vs The Great Irish Famine

How are the two similar- how different?

I think in time people will look at these two events as both cataclysmic events- that shaped Ireland for centuries to come.

Some similarities-

1. Both came about at the end of a boom time. Prior to the great famine, the Irish population, economy and towns/cities exploded on the back of European events (in this case the Napoleonic wars, which guaranteed high agricultural prices.) In Ireland, the expansion of the euro currency/fall of Iron curtain flooded our small country with hordes of cash, that led to a boom in asset values and avergae income. If the potato was the boom crop of the pre-famine years- property was the boom crop of our own times.

2. The end of the European wars led to a slow/gradual change in Irish food prices- but no corresponding decline in population growth. the potatoe allowed people to keep expanding family size/and sub-dividing land. The end of the export led Irish economic boom was replaced with artifical economic activity (like the potatoe) after 2001. There was a mini economic crisis in the late 1820s/ early 1830s which signaled how precarious the situation had become. This was ignored. In Ireland no lessons were learned from the slow down of 2001. The credit card became our potato from 2001 on. Allowing unsustainable existence. Sub-dividing land of the 19th century was echoed by parents providing guarnatee on their childrens mortgage applications in the 2000s.

3. A dominant economic ideology played a role in both epochs. Social darwinisim and lasseiz-faire economics meant that no state intervention took place on a large scale once the crisis became apparent (that applies to both then and now). If people were starving- well they shouldnt have gotten that way in the first place (that was the unspoken attitude). Similarily- now people who bought into the idea of owning a property are being blamed for their own current predicaments. The economic beliefs of govt offer plenty of blame on the victims- but no solutons.


4. Unequal distribution of land/wealth. Crises like famines/property booms/busts have consistently showing to take place in societies with massive inequality. Ireland in the 1840's was dominated by the landlord/tenant system. Ireland of late was dominated by a system where everyone wanted to be a landlord, and only fools are tenants.


Some differences-

1. Emmigration- not available as an option now. Obviously, widely accepted by historians now, the famine allowed for huge increases in productivity into the 1900s.

2. Social welfare. For all the people who lose sleep about welfare fraud etc- imagine a situation where zero govt assistance existed- The numbers of people starving on the streets would lead to huge social upheaval, suffering and loss of life. 200 euro per week would have saved millions of lives in the 1840s. It is to be applauded that although it means taxes and all the other inefficiences of raising a tax, social welfare prevents societal collapse. A widley held myth about the famine is that people starved because of the failure of the potatoe- meaning that was their sole source of food. In fact, there was plenty of food available- as survival rates in urban areas atest. The problem was the means to purchase it. Subsistence farming generates no extra income. Social welfare obviously does.