With the news that our Antipodean cousins in New Zealand have whittled down the 10,000 submissions ahead of next year’s two referenda on whether or not to adopt a new national flag, talk in the studios of Newstalk turned to the design of our own tricolour.
On yesterday’s Moncrieff, guest host Kieran Cuddihy was talking to journalist and acting editor of TheJournal.ie Christine Bohan, who brought up the vexing topic of our flag. “I really like the idea,” Bohan said, “Because there is something very democratic about it.”
“Well no-one in their right mind would vote to put orange in a flag,” Cuddihy quipped, before Bohan reminded him it was a trendy colour and, after all, “the new black.”
Cuddihy then expressed how much he would like to see the old Irish flag of a harp on a green background make a revival, with many listeners texting in their comments on the nature of the Irish flag. Some people were in favour of flying something new:
“A new flag for Ireland should show the harp,our national emblem. Ireland is the only country which has a musical instrument as its national symbol. Music has universal appeal,” said Geraldine in Castleknock.
“You’re right, flag is an archaic throwback and is boring,” said Hugh in Cork, “So let’s have one that looks good and means something.”
Others were happy to keep the green, white, and orange tricolour as it is:
“To judge the appropriateness of a national flag based on its graphic appeal is a pretty superficial way to identify a people. The tricolour grew out of the European movement of political enlightenment symbols shorn of heraldry and monarchist/religious symbolism,” a listener wrote. “The French, the Dutch, the Germans, and Belgians all have the same format. Are you suggesting they get some creative types in to re-jazz their national symbols? Unless of course you think that whole nation state thing is a bit passé.”
“Although I completely understand the reasoning behind the change or need of a new flag to represent our modern day ireland but as a economist I reckon the green, white and gold is powerful marketing tool for Ireland and in regards tourism. So I'd say leave it,” another listener said.
While another unidentified listener lobbied for the adoption of the Libyan flag as our own: “Ireland could adopt the old Libya Flag, which was just an all-Green Rectangle. They are not using it anymore, and I'm sure Gaddafi wouldn't mind. His love of Ireland is well documented. We could put his face in the middle.”
But we’d like to know what you think, so please take a moment to answer our poll:
If you cannot see the poll, please click on this link.
