The national flag

What are the rules around using the national flag. Is it true that you can’t write on it? The National Flag of Ireland is often referred to as the tricolour and consists of three colours – green, white and orange. It was adopted as the flag of the Irish Free State in 1922. It was formally confirmed as the National Flag in the 1937 Constitution:

As part of the 1916 commemorations, the national flag was presented to every primary and post-primary school in the State. Along with the flag, schools received a booklet detailing the guidelines for respecting the flag.

These guidelines are issued by the Department of the Taoiseach and give extensive information about when the flag can be flown and how it should be used. For example, no other flag or pennant should be flown above it when it is being flown in Ireland. Care must also be taken not to let the flag touch the ground or become entangled with trees.

The flag should never be defaced by placing slogans, logos, lettering or pictures of any kind on it, for example, at sporting events, and it should not be draped on cars, trains, boats or other modes of transport. It should not be carried flat, except when used to drape a coffin. The rules also say the national flag should be replaced if it has become worn or frayed, as it is no longer fit for display in a respectful manner. The same principles apply if the flag is reproduced in printed or electronic format.

However, these guidelines are not statutory guidelines. In other words, there are no laws setting out the rules around use of the flag. This means that there are no penalties for anyone who does not follow the guidelines.