Ulster Banner facts for kids
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| Name | Ulster Banner |
|---|---|
| Use |  |
| Proportion | 3:5 |
| Adopted |
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| Relinquished | 1973 (Government abolished) |
| Design | Red cross on a white field, decorated by a six-pointed star bearing a red hand and ensigned by a crown. |
| Designed by | Sir Nevile Wilkinson (Ulster King of Arms) |
The Ulster Banner (in Irish: Meirge Uladh) is a special flag. It comes from the old Coat of Arms of Northern Ireland. This flag has a red cross on a white background. On top of this, there is a six-pointed star with a crown and a red hand in the middle.
This flag was used by the Government of Northern Ireland from 1953 until 1973. In 1973, that government was ended by a law called the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973.
Contents
What is the Ulster Banner?
The design for the Ulster Banner and its symbols was created in Dublin Castle. This happened between 1923 and 1924. The person who designed it was Sir Nevile Wilkinson, who was an expert in coats of arms.
The flag is based on the older flag of the province of Ulster. It includes the famous Red Hand of Ulster in the center. It also has a red cross, which is similar to the Saint George's Cross.
A crown was added to the flag to show a link to the monarchy of the United Kingdom. Instead of just a shield, the Red Hand is placed inside a six-pointed star. This star stands for the six counties that make up Northern Ireland.
People sometimes call this flag by other names. These include the Ulster flag, the Northern Ireland flag, or the Stormont flag. "Stormont" was the name of the building where the old government of Northern Ireland met.
How the Flag Was Used
Official Use by Government
In 1924, the Government of Northern Ireland was given its own coat of arms. This meant they could use these symbols on a flag. They first officially used this flag for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
From 1953 until 1972, the flag was used officially by the Government of Northern Ireland. It was also used as the main flag for Northern Ireland by many people. In 1973, the government and its parliament were closed down by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. After this, the flag was no longer used officially by the government.
Continued Use Today
Even though the government stopped using it in 1973, the Ulster Banner is still used by some groups. People who support unionism (wanting Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom) often use this flag.
In 2004, a study found that some local councils in Northern Ireland still flew the Ulster Banner. They flew it alongside the Union Flag.
The Flag in Sports
The Ulster Banner is still used to represent Northern Ireland in some international sports events. For example, it is used for Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games. It also represents golfers from Northern Ireland on the PGA Tour. The flag is also used by FIFA for the Northern Ireland national football team.
See also
- List of flags of Ireland
- List of flags of the United Kingdom
- List of flags used in Northern Ireland
