1. The Irish Tricolour
By Valerie King

2. Here is our flag:

3. Our Flag
The Republic of Ireland's flag is made of three equal-sized rectangles of orange, white, and green (this type of flag is called a tricolour). The flag is twice as wide as it is tall. The green side is by the flagpole. This flag was first used in 1848

4. The green colour on the flag represents the native people of Ireland (most of whom are Roman Catholic). The orange colour represents the British supporters of William of Orange who settled in Northern Ireland in the 17th century (most of whom are Protestant). The white in the centre of the flag represents peace between these two groups of people.

5. Our Flag
A green flag with a golden harp was unofficially used as the flag of Ireland during the mid-17th century by the Catholic-majority who wanted to free Ireland from the British rule.

6. The First, Unofficial Irish Flag

7. Our Flag
Patterned after French Tricolour, our Irish Tricolour gained prominence during the mid-19th century as a symbol of peace and union (white band) between the Catholic-majority (green band) and Protestant-minority (orange band) in order to found a self-governing Ireland on such peace and union.

8. History of our flag:
The Irish Tricolour was flown during the 1916 Easter Rising, and subsequently by the Irish Republic during the Irish War of Independence, which eventually led to the establishment of the Irish Free State in The flag was officially given constitutional status on December 29, 1937.