tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307753471067110646.post7913034318050303659..comments2024-03-25T05:45:13.671-07:00Comments on Sam's Ramblings : Northern Ireland Flag and Coat of Arms.Sam McKittrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133156957945805261noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307753471067110646.post-44394976095158585862014-01-19T04:22:28.410-08:002014-01-19T04:22:28.410-08:00Thank you for your infomation, it helped me a lot!...Thank you for your infomation, it helped me a lot!yanacharovnicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14736434590065403745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307753471067110646.post-55093002770439202392013-01-18T10:05:05.465-08:002013-01-18T10:05:05.465-08:00Thanks for your comment and I am glad you like it....Thanks for your comment and I am glad you like it.<br />Firstly you are right with what you said about the harp. The reason I used it is because it represents Northern Ireland on the current Royal and Government coat of arms, and before the act of Union in 1800 it represented the Kingdom of Ireland (which you can arguably say was the forbearer of Northern Ireland) and was used by the Parliament of that kingdom. You are right in what you say about the red hand. But the harp has been and is used in the UK coat of arms and in military and police badges that would appeal to Unionists, like wise the red hand is probably Gaelic in origin and is also found in Nationalist symbolism for example the badge of the Tyrone GAA team. So in regard to the harp and red hand it is more how they are used that depends on who they appeal to. Paul James did design an alternative Royal Standard and coat of arms where he uses a red hand instead of a harp. I think it really depends on personal taste, which for me when it comes to royalty is the harp.<br />Secondly the Cross of St Andrew. I did not intend it to be seen a link to historic Gaelic alliances as such. The supporters on the coat of arms reflect the two identities of NI. The lion with the saltire represents the British identity while the Elk with the green harp flag represents the Irish identity. The reason why I used a saltire and green harps is that they are historic flags of the two communities. Most Protestant Unionists are descended from Lowland Scots who settled in Ulster in the plantations of the 17th Century, they have retained many aspects of that identity such as religion (Presbyterian) Langue (Scots the Germanic language rather than the Gaelic language of the highlands) and music. However as you have pointed out Nationalists could see that flag as a symbol of historic Gaelic and Celtic links with Scotland, and that is intentional. Likewise the green flag is a historic Nationalist flag but green flags with harps have been known to be the basis of the colours of Irish regiments of the British Army. So Unionists could also identify with it. The result is both communities can to some extent identify with the others flag rather than be offended by it. Sam McKittrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09133156957945805261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307753471067110646.post-51107143425857175082013-01-16T20:10:45.279-08:002013-01-16T20:10:45.279-08:00Have a very keen interest in british/ Irish histor...Have a very keen interest in british/ Irish history, and wrote a 3000 word thesis on Gaelic History. I very much like your designs for a possible royal coat of arms to be used in NI (as opposed to the standard english version) though i suggest retaining the red hand, as the red hand is more synonymous with the Protestant North than the Irish harp, which is considered to be a more Gaelic design on Kingship (as it was the "standard"if you will, of the high kings). I like the idea of having the county arms bordering the main crest. Also, is the use of St. Andrews cross adirect link to the gaelic heritage shared by the Irish and the Scottish? i.e. the dal riata kingdom of the sixth century? (worth looking it up)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307753471067110646.post-14818300293561648012012-12-15T06:32:52.706-08:002012-12-15T06:32:52.706-08:00Yes I must admit that last design is not my person...Yes I must admit that last design is not my personal favourite either, but it has probably had the most positive feedback in a small space of time from a variety of people than any other design.Sam McKittrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09133156957945805261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307753471067110646.post-48689249213773178992012-12-14T13:32:18.722-08:002012-12-14T13:32:18.722-08:00I like the coat of arms and the royal banners, but...I like the coat of arms and the royal banners, but, about the flag, I still prefer the version of <a href="http://samsflags.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/northern-ireland.html" rel="nofollow">10/23/2012</a> for a small margin.Leonardo Piccionihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09280840758558786698noreply@blogger.com