Click for National Anthem
The following is the
text of Article 7 of the Constitution of Ireland:
The green stripe represents those of native Irish descent,
the orange stripe represents the descendants of 17th-century
British colonists (a group which supported William of Orange
in the War of the Two Kings), and the white stripe represents
the hope for peace between the two groups.
Thomas Francis Meagher, a leader of the Young Ireland movement,
presented the flag to the public for the first time at a meeting
held in Waterford city on 7 March 1848. A month later, he spoke as follows
when presenting the flag to the people of Dublin at another meeting:
Is ea íSeasann an
stríoc uaine do na Gaeil, an stríoc fhlannbhuí do
na Nua-Ghaill (dream a thacaigh le Uilliam Órá
isteach i gCogadh an Dá Rí), agus an stríoc
bhán don dóchas go mbeadh síocháin idir
an dá dhream.
Chuir Thomas Francis Meagher, ceannaire de chuid lucht
Éire Óg, an bhratach i láthair an phobail don
chéad uair ag cruinniú a tionóladh i gcathair
Phort Láirge ar an 7 Márta 1848. Seo mar a labhair
sé nuair a chuir sé an bhratach i láthair mhuintir
Bhaile Átha Cliath ag cruinniú eile an mhí dar
gcionn:
Is í an Bhratach Uaine a bhí in úsáid
ag lucht leanúna Dhónaill Uí Chonaill ag an am,
ach ba phoblachtaigh iad na hÉireannaigh Óga agus theastaigh
suaitheantas ar leith uathu a chuirfeadh a gcuid poblachtachais
in iúl go soiléir: is ar bhratach phoblachtach
na Fraince a bhunaíodar dearadh na brataí nua: Background music: National Anthem of Ireland
Seo téacs Airteagal 7 de Bhunreacht na hÉireann:
The national flag is the tricolour of green white and orange.
The flag is divided into three equal stripes and its width is equal
to twice its height. It is used as the civil and state flag and
as the civil and naval ensign.
The white in the centre signifies a lasting truce between
the 'Orange' and the 'Green', and I trust that beneath its folds
the hands of the Irish Protestant and the Irish Catholic may be clasped
in generous and heroic brotherhood.
The Green Flag was used by the contemporary supporters of
Daniel O'Connell, but the Young Irelanders were republicans and
required a distinctive emblem which would clearly express their
republicanism: the design of the new flag was modelled on that
of the French Republic.
An bhratach trí dhath i uaine, bán, agus flannbhuí,
an suaitheantas náisiúnta. Trí stríoc chothroma
atá sa bhratach agus tá a leithead dhá uair
níos faide ná a hairde. Bratach phobail, bratach
stáit agus bratach loinge. The white in the centre signifies a lasting truce between
the 'Orange' and the 'Green', and I trust that beneath its folds
the hands of the Irish Protestant and the Irish Catholic may be clasped
in generous and heroic brotherhood.
Teacs le V. Morley.