Inaugural Flight: National Flag To Wave on St. Brigid's Day From Now On

Thursday, 1 February 2024 16:56

By Martin Osborne

The updated official protocol now includes the St. Brigid's Day/Imbolc bank holiday.

The Taoiseach has confirmed that the National Flag will be flown on Ireland's newest public holiday in honour of St. Brigid.

The announcement comes as part of the government's recognition of the cultural and historical significance of St. Brigid's Day. The National Flag will now be raised on all national and official government buildings annually on this public holiday.

Previously, the flag was reserved for occasions like St. Patrick's Day, Easter Sunday and Monday (commemorating the 1916 Rising), and the National Day of Commemoration (closest to the Anglo-Irish Truce in 1921).

The decision reflects the exclusivity of St. Brigid's Day, which now joins the ranks of a select group of days when the National Flag is displayed across all State buildings.

This is in line with the strict protocols governing the flying of the National Flag during significant national and local events, including festivals and commemorations.

A brief history of the National Flag was recounted, highlighting its first appearance in Waterford in 1848 by Thomas Francis Meagher.

The flag gained prominence during the 1916 Rising and was later adopted as the flag of the Irish Free State in 1922, solidifying its status as the National Flag in the 1937 Constitution.

The updated official protocol now includes the St. Brigid's Day/Imbolc bank holiday, set for February 5th, underlining the day's importance as a national holiday.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar expressed his support for this initiative, emphasising the symbolism of St. Brigid as a beacon of light, hope, and peace. He stated, "In including the Saint Brigid/Imbolc public holiday as one of the official days our National Flag is flown, we pause to remember Brigid the peacemaker, the protector of the natural world, and a formidable force for justice whose light shines ever more brightly today."

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