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Symbols
and emblems promote division rather than respect |
Symbols
and emblems are taken seriously in Northern Ireland. They are an indispensable
element of political, cultural and religious traditions for unionists
and loyalists, nationalists and republicans. The British Union Jack, the
red and white Ulster flag created by the Northern Ireland government in
1953 and the many flags associated with loyalist paramilitaries and Orange
culture have been synonymous with unionism since the partition of Ireland
in 1921. The Government of Northern Ireland, prorogued in 1972, decreed
that the Union flag should fly on government buildings and RUC stations
on public holidays and royal occasions including the 12 July when Protestants
celebrate the Battle of the Boyne. Nationalists and republicans felt alienated
from this government sanctioned practice and on the occasions when they
flew the tricolour, the national flag of the Republic of Ireland, riots
often occurred as the RUC attempted to remove it.
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majority of housing estates in Northern Ireland are segregated into unionist/loyalist
and nationalist/republican areas. Many of these communities, especially
in working class neighbourhoods, display the flags of their respective traditions
and paint their kerbstones in their preferred national colours as a way
of marking out territory. Republicans/nationalists tend to fly the tricolour
at Easter commemorating the 1916 Rising while unionists/loyalists fly their
flags during the Orange marching season from Easter to the end of August,
commemorating battles in which Protestants triumphed over Catholics. |
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unionism has fractured since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in April
1998 which accounts for the increase in the number and variety of flags
flown in unionist and loyalist areas. There has also been an increase in
nationalist and republican opposition to the flying of the Union flag on
public buildings and RUC stations. |
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