What Do the Colors on the Ireland Flag Represent?

Ireland's fight for independence was long and hard, and as of this writing in 2009, it has still not been entirely resolved. The Republic of Ireland's flag is intended as a gesture of unity as much as nationalism: a blending of its two largest cultural factions under a single voice and flag. Though great strides have been made toward realizing that dream, the northern parts of Ireland still remain troubled: balanced between the Irish Republic to the south and the United Kingdom just next door.

History of the Flag

Irish patriot Thomas Francis Meagher first introduced the tricolor Irish flag in 1848 as a part of revolutionary efforts to attain Irish independence. It appeared in 1916 as a part of the Irish revolt and was adopted as the official flag of the Irish Republic in 1919. The Constitution of Ireland, adopted in 1937, provides instructions for the flag's composition, but leaves many of the details unspecified. According to the pertinent passage, the flag need only be a tricolor consisting of green, white and orange bands.

The Green

The green section of the flag is the part closest to the flagstaff. It represents the people of Ireland, primarily its Catholic majority. Green has been associated with Ireland from time immemorial---indeed, color and nation are almost inseparable in many ways---but on a more important level, green symbolizes the movement for Irish independence. The occupying English disliked the green flag, which made it a symbol of revolution as well.

The Orange

The orange part of the flag flies on the far side of the flag, opposite the green. It represents the Protestant minority in Ireland, particularly those in Northern Ireland who descended from English and Scottish colonizers. Orange stems from William of Orange, who ruled England, Scotland and Ireland in the late 17th Century and who defeated the Catholic King James II at the Battle of the Boyne on July 12, 1690. Irish Protestants commemorate the occasion every year.

The White

White constitutes peace, tranquility and innocence, and in some cases has holy connotations. It stands between the green and the orange as a symbol of unity: the joining of Ireland's Catholics and Protestants together in a fruitful, harmonious relationship.

Alternate Flags

Northern Ireland is still a part of the United Kingdom, and thus its official flag is the British Union Jack. Before Ireland's independence, the nation often flew the flag of Leinster, which depicts a gold harp on a field of green. Numerous other flags have been used to represented the nation, including variations on the two described above.