Senate Resolution No. 4148

BY: Senator KENNEDY

COMMEMORATING the 170th Anniversary of the
official flag of Ireland being publicly flown for
the first time to be observed on March 7, 2018

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
those whose true purpose and worthy accomplishment foster a spirit of
community as they promote and recognize the goals and ideals of the rich
cultural heritage of the Italian community; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 170th Anniversary of the official flag of Ireland being
publicly flown for the first time to be observed on March 7, 2018; and

WHEREAS, The Irish tricolor flag, the official flag of Ireland, was
publicly flown for the first time on March 7, 1848; and

WHEREAS, Its first appearance was during the Young Irish Rebellion
of 1848, one of the many European Revolutions of 1848 aimed at creating
independent national states from old monarchies; and

WHEREAS, The flag was created by Thomas Francis Meagher, a leader of
the Young Irelander movement who would later become famous as a
Brigadier General with the Union Army in the American Civil War; and

WHEREAS, Thomas Francis Meagher dreamed of an Ireland where the
Catholic and Protestant factions would come together to win independence
from England, and created a flag he felt reflected that union; and

WHEREAS, The green represents Irish nationalism, the orange
represents Ireland's Protestant community and the Orange Order, and the
white represents lasting peace between the two; and

WHEREAS, The flag hung for eight days in Waterford City at the Wolfe
Tone Confederate Club before it was taken down by the British forces;
and

WHEREAS, The tricolor began being recognized as the official flag of
Ireland during the Easter Rising in 1916; and

WHEREAS, Before this the primary flag of Ireland was the "Erin go
Bragh" flag, a green background with a harp at the center; it remains a
treasured symbol of Ireland, and the only flag with a musical
instrument; and

WHEREAS, The tricolor was adopted by the Irish Republican Army
during the Irish War of Independence and served as a symbol of the Irish
Free State from 1922 - 1937; and

WHEREAS, When the Irish constitution came into law in 1937, the
tricolor was confirmed as the official flag of Ireland; and

WHEREAS, The official flag of Ireland truly symbolizes the rich
heritage of the Irish culture and its people, unlimited in their
contributions to this diverse Empire State and Nation; now, therefore,
be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 170th Anniversary of the official flag of Ireland being
publicly flown for the first time to be observed on March 7, 2018; and
be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably, engrossed, be
transmitted to Consul General of Ireland Ciaran Madden.