Historic flag found in Arklow Town Hall

August 1998

A historic flag which had gone AWOL at the Town Hall in Arklow has now been found.

The 1798 flag, with a hand-painted figure of a pikeman, had been specially commissioned by the Dublin-Wicklowmen Association for the 150 anniversary celebrations of the Rising in 1948.

The association had carried the flag in the 1948 parade in Arklow and had been hoping that it would have been used again to lead the bicentenary commemorations in the town in June this year.

But Town Hall discovered that the flag had gone missing when they went looking for it.

The Dublin-Wicklowmen’s Association had donated it to the council in the early 1990s to be hung in a place of honour.

Flag-makers James Golden from Dublin, who made the flag in 1948 at a cost of £75, say that it would cost £1,000 to make in today’s terms.

Now, two months after Arklow’s 1798 parade and commemorations, the flag has been rediscovered hiding in the Town Hall behind a safe.

Mr John Burke, a Hollywoodman who is chairman of the Dublin-Wicklowmen’s Association, said that they were disappointed the flag was not used in the recent 1798 commemorations, but they were pleased that at last the flag had been found.

A spokesman for the council said that they would now be looking at ways of putting the flag (banner) on display in a secure environment.