Educational campaign on history of Irish flag launched

A campaign has been launched by the Thomas F Meagher Foundation in a bid to ensure that the Irish tricolour remains an emblem of peace and brotherhood between the various communities who live on the island of Ireland.

For the 12th year running, the foundation is holding events in schools in the lead up to St Patrick's Day, under the slogan 'The flag of all of us'.

The foundation is also running a public awareness campaign this year which will see advertisements placed on Dublin buses for the next month.

Founded in 2013 by Church of Ireland Reverend Michael Cavanagh, the foundation aims to educate young people about the history and meaning of the flag.

Irish patriot Thomas F Meagher was born in Waterford and became one of the leaders of the Young Irelanders in 1848.

Mr Meagher raised what would later become the national flag at the Wolfe Tone Confederate Club at 33 The Mall in Waterford city in 1848.

In April of that year he stated that: "The white in the centre signifies a lasting truce between Orange and Green and I trust that beneath its folds the hands of Irish Protestants and Irish Catholics may be clasped in generous and heroic brotherhood."

It was adopted as the flag of the Irish Free State in 1922 and formally confirmed as the national flag in the 1937 Constitution.

"Faithful to Thomas F Meagher's original vision, the flag's message now embraces all who call Ireland home. Its meaning remains as powerful and relevant today as ever," Reverend Cavanagh said.

This year's campaign was officially launched at the Mansion House by the Lord Mayor of Dublin and 102-year-old Charlie O’Leary, former kitman of the Irish national soccer team.

"The flag is the flag of all of us," Mr O'Leary said.