The Irish standard., 1899-11-18
Mr.. T. D. Sullivan, in writing on this
subject, says OF the green flag:

Irishmen fought and fell; it was the
color chosen by Robert Emmett for the
uniform OF his followers; song and story
have endcared it to the Irish heart, and
nothing will ever displace it. l believe
England will yet give it official recog-
milton and place in her uniforms, flags
and banners; but, however that may be,
1reland's choice in the matter is settled,
and irrevocable. So let people discuss
as they may the question what was the
Irish national color, to the question
what is the national color the answer
Of the Irish race is our own immortal
green.'"
Sir Bernard Burke, Ulster King-at-
Arms, wrote as follows on the subject:
"The question of the Irish national
color was raised in connection with the
state prosecutions in Ireland, and it
nearly became the subject OF legal con-
troversy. That I might reply correctly,
l made every possible inquiry. l exam
ined carefully the old Celtic authorities,
searched through the Annals Of the
-Four Masters, the Bardiac Remains and
other documents, and l sought informa-
ton from all the sources l thought
likely to afford it. Previous to the
Anglo-Norman invasion it does not ap-
pear that there was any color or stand
ard for Ireland at large The various
septs were ranged under the banners OF
their respective chiefs, and when one
Of those chiefs was elected King his
color may have been considered for the
time the national ensign. The field
"gules" OF the O'Brien coat of arms
would indicate that Brian Borus ban
ner at Clontari was red Most assur-
edly, the popular colors OF those days
were crimson, saffron and blue. Green
was not in favor. O'NeiIl did not use it,
nor O'Meleaghin, nor O'Donell, nor
Mccarthy, nor O'Rorkc nor MacMor-
rough-Kavanagh, nor OBricn, and
those were the chief Celtic princes from
whom the kings were chosen
Certain it is that, from the date OF
the advent OF Strongbow and his fol-
lowers, the field OF the national arms,
and consequently the national color, has
been blue.
From the fact that azure three
crowns Or was the coat OF augmenta-
ton, granted by King RFihaEd H. to his
iavorite, Robert de We're, Earl OF Ok
ford and Marquis OF Dublin, when he
created him Duke OF Ireland, with the
sovereignty thereof, and from the occur
renee OF the three crowns on the old
Irish coinage it may airly be inferred
that that coat OF arms was the national
bearing OF ireland during the Planta-
genet era.
''Tllis coat, azure three crowns or,
was that OF St. Edmund, and it is just
possible that the Anglo-Normans ar
rayed, as they are known to have been
under the banners OF ST. George and St.
Edmund, may have introduced the bear
ings of St. Edmund as the ensign of the
newly-acquired country of Ireland St.
Edmund's arms had indeed long been
employed as part OF the royal insignia.
They were borne, with those of St.
George, into the army of King Edward
L., and, in conjunction with the royal
banner, were placed on the turrets OF
Caerlaverock Castle after its capture.
The three crowns were relinquished for
the harp as the arms of Ireland by
Henry WILL, from fear, it is said, they
might be taken for the papal tiara; and
the gold harp on blue field has been
since the time of James I. quartered for
ireland in the royal achievement.
'There is very interesting MS. in
the handwriting of Sir William lie
Neve, still preserved in the Herald's
College, London, on the subject Of the
adoption of the harp. In it are given
the words OF dissent Of the Earl Mar
shal, the Earl of Northampton, which,
are worth quoting:
Sir VIM. Seagcr tould me vt when
ye commrs for ye first claynes Of King
James had determined ye harpe to be
quartered with France, 1ngland and
Scotland for ye Armcs of Ireland, the
Earl of Northampton (Lord H. How
ard) in showing no affection in approv-
ing ye same, sayd ye best reason that l
can observe for ye bearing thereof is, it
resembles vt country in being such an
instrument it requires more cost to keep
it in tune than it is worth; not 3 crowns
are ye antient armcs Of Ireland (thc
Harpe but an antient badge or device OF
that country from whence it came vt
We're Duke OF ireland had 3 crowns with
a border given him in augmentation.
In the tyne of Edw We 4th commits
sion being to enquire ye armes of Ire
land, it was returned vt 3 crowns were
yc armes, and these arms I have seen
upon yc reverse OF old Irish coyncs'
at is thus shown that azure, and
azure only, has been the color OF Ire
land since the English conquests, and ii
is equally clear that, antccedcntly, green
was never adopted by any OF the great
Celtic houses from which the Kings OF
Ireland were chosen. At the creation
1 Il 4. ~. Dox~ IL