Unionists complain about ‘unsightly’ tricolours while a turning blind eye to deluge of British flags

I HAD a letter published in the Belfast Telegraph a few weeks ago in response to unionist politicians in Newcastle who were complaining about tricolours on display and saying this was a bad look for the Co Down town.

My letter pointed out that these concerns would be taken more seriously if unionists in Carrickfergus complained about all the Union and Northern Ireland flags giving the historic Co Antrim town a bad look.

As I predicted (although it wouldn’t take a genius to predict this), the flags are now flying from lamp-posts, but this time the flag erectors have really gone to town — not just on the Marine Highway, but also Joymount, the Scotch Quarter and High Street.

I’m not holding my breath on any unionist politician complaining, though. After all, this is all part of this supposed ‘British culture’ that they talk about.

Scottish culture is tartan, bagpipes, shinty, Robert Burns and Walter Scott, and Irish culture is St Patrick, Irish dancing, hurling, Oscar Wilde and James Joyce. For unionists and loyalists, meanwhile, it’s erecting flags on lampposts. If this is the best they can come up with for ‘culture’, then I feel sorry for them.

I’m not sure what is British about putting flags up outside the castle, a primary school, a children’s play park, a gospel hall and, most sacred of all, a cenotaph.

Well done, lads. I hope you’re all proud of yourselves for this display of ‘Britishness’.

NAME AND ADDRESS WITH EDITOR