The Irish standard., 1908-05-30
PROOF FURNISHED
Blue, Not Green, the National
Color Of ireland.
A Controversy in which Myles
j. Murphy Figures.

.. MuIpuy CA8 Ur0S.
Some weeks ago, at public gather
ing in Buffalo, our genial townsman,
Mr.. Albert f. Jones. made the state
ment that blue. and not green. is the
national color of Ireland Exception
was taken to Mr.. Jones's statement in
proof of which he adduced this letter,
says the Buffalo Catholic Union and
Times.
Office of Arms. Dublin Castle.
March 10. 1905.
Dear Sir: In reply to your letter of
21st ult.. I am directed by Captain
Neville R. Wilkinson. Ulster King of
Arms. to inform you that the national
color of Ireland is, and always has
been. blue Nhat is heraldic blue. ultra
marine. not as some people have
thought, sky blue.)
Green never was the national color
Of Ireland. The national color is taken
from the ground of the arms: in the
case Of Ireland it is azure. harp or
stringed argent-thus blue is the color
for Ireland
Yours faithfully.
G. d. BENTEHAELL.
Albert E. Jones. Esq. Buffalo.
Wishing to get more information on
this important-and to many surpris-
ing-historical incident. we referred
Mr.. Joness letter to the distinguished
Irish scholar, Mr.. Myles j. Murphy, to
whom we are indebted for this ex-
tremely interesting contribution:
New York, May 9. 1908.
Editor Catholic Union and Times:
Dear Sir-In reference to the con-
troversy relative to the national color
of Ireland. would say that Mr.. Albert
z. Jones is correct in maintaining that
blue, the full. rich, ultramarine blue
is the true Irish national color, has
always been so, and is today the Off
ctal heraldic color for Ireland. The
correct shield for Ireland is blue. with
golden harp surmounted by the an
cient Irish crown, denoting its right
to be a kingdom. The green shield
with the harp is the emblem of the
Province of Leinster
1t is only within comparatively re-
cent times. since the organization Of
the United Irishmen in the end Of the
eighteenth century, that green was
adopted AS national color by the pa :
triotic party. whose leaders, 1t is said,
wished to blend the Catholic (blue)
and the Protestant (orange) colors
into one hue. to symbolic the union Of
these two important elements in the
common cause How true this ex-
planation is. cannot say. The other
patriotic parties following the United
Irishmen retained the green. and IT has
been the color of the various revolu-
tionary parties ever since. Of1cially.
however. the Irish national color is
blue.
The most ancient Irish flag. and that
which lasted through the greatest
period of time, was the sunhurst flag,
on whose azure field blazed the god Of
the ancient Irish. the full sun. This
was borne for ages by the high kings
Of the island and foated above the
great triennial assembly at Tara.
There is no record of its birth, and for
aught we know this banner may have
come into Ireland with the early
Milesians, or even the more ancient De
Danaans. from their starting places in
the Orient.
We owe the first flag with a harp to
the Milesians, with whom the arts Of
music and poetry We're held in high
esteem. These arts would seem to
have been practised by this people long
tion informs us that they were accom-
panied by q celebrated harper, Onna
Caenflnn. and an ard -fieadh, or master
of poetry Cir Mac CHS. These two
men, eminent in their respective pro-
fessions, were SO loved by the two
princes. Heremon and Heber, that each
wished to retain them in his suite.
There was an amicable contest as to
which Of them the tuneful artists
should belong. The drawing by lot.
however. decreed that the poet should
go tn Heremon, who ruled in the north
ern part of the island, and the harpist
was taken by Heber, the ruler Of the
south. Vallancy states that, owing to
the latter decision, the harp became
popular in the southern portions Of the
country. and that even at the present
time its Influence is felt. as the people
of Munster and Leinster are more
given to music and song than are those
Of any other section Of Ireland. Heber.