The Irish standard., 1912-06-22
ERIN MAY HAVE NEW
NATIONAL EMBLEM
With Home Rule in Sight Debate has
Arisen as to What Should be
the National Flag.
Ten Different Designs Suggested
None of Which has Reference
to the Shamrock.
Others Say New National Emblem
Should Have Old Celtic Harp
on it's Folds.

Ou llS + OlUSs
Now that Ireland is within sight of
Home Rule, quite lively debate has
arisen as to what should be the ma
tional flag. Most people would at
once reply that the golden harp on a
green ground has always been the ac-
cepted emblem. But there are many
who declare this is not the national
flag, but pertains only to Leinster.
At least ten flags have their adher-
ents. none of which includes any
reference to the shamrock. The most
ancient is believed to be the spear and
serpent flag established in remote
days to commemorate the curing Of
Caodhal Glas, ancestor Of Mileslns, of
I'snake-bite by the rod of Moses. The
O'Sullivans have carried this banner
in later times. Another and more IA
vored design is the golden sunburst
OH a blue ground, the traditional en-
blem of Fion MacCumhalls militia.
The arms of Munster-three golden
crowns on. a blue ground, represent
ing the three kingdoms of Desmond,
Ormond and Thomond-f1gured as the
Irish flag after the Norman invasion
in ITO, but King Henry VII of Eng
land, in 1547, feared 1t might be con-
fused with the triple tiara Of the Pope,
SO he changed it to the golden harp
on blue ground.
Red Hand Of Ireland.
| The O'Neills, Shane and Hugh, how
ever, grew to such strength in the
latter half of that century that their
emblelns of a red hand on a white
ground was regarded as "the red hand
of Ireland BY the time the seven
teenth century had opened Munster
| was flying three crowns on a blue
field, Connaught, parti-colored coat,
Meath, a king enthroned, and Leins-
ter, golden harp on a green ground.
The Cromwellians regarded the gol-
den harp on the blue ground as the
Irish national flag, but a shipping let
ter of 1912 refers to the harp being
shown on "a green field" But at a
later date the Irish, who fought
against Cromwell mustered under a
banner showing a red cross on a gol-
cen ground. This emblem is used in
the Ulster arms of today.
The green figured at the battle of
the Boyne in 1890, but OH the side of
King Williams forces, while their op-
ponents fought under the white
the harp on a blue ground, but the
United Irishmen used green again in
1898, because, it is said, the blend of
blue and orange that produces green
typifies the union Of north and south.
Green Color UnIueky?
Since then green has mostly figured
in Irish history, though Charles Stuart
Parnell considered it an unlucky col
or. In the Union Jack there Is a
diagonal cross called by the English
est. Patricks cross" and extracted
from the arms of Trinity College:
while in 184S there was an Irish tri-
color, presented to Dublin citizens by
Meagher, and composed of green,
white and orange.
With such a wealth Of choice, it is
| not surprising that efforts are being
made to produce a composite emblem
A prize has been offered for the best,
! hut meanwhile Francis Joseph Bigger
Of Ordigh, Belfast, has contributed a
! shield design that covers most of The
ground. He thinks the flag itself
should be squared, not oblong, for
such a flag waves better, is less cas-
| lily damaged and shows the design
more clearly.
Local patriotism he would foster by
rcrpetuating local, clan or family
flags, but as for the national emblem
it should be of rich dark green Irish
linen, with the old Celtic harp large
upon it folds. Such a device on q
square flag, floating from an Irish
tower. is impressive and artistic be.
yond measure, has no obscurity about
| 1t, can be read and understood by the
merest child, and is admittedly ma