In the course of my working week, I drive the length and breadth of NEI and parts of the South. From Lifford to Larne, from Ballintoy to Cullaville and beyond. I drive through nationalist and Loyalist areas, Republican and Unionist areas and while one might not know one from the other if they weren’t from here there’s one element which makes it abundantly clear which area is Unionist and Loyalist and which sets those areas apart from nationalist areas and those with little or no political leaning. That element is flags.
Yes, we have murals and ‘the writing on the wall’ and all of that malarky but a flag is something entirely different. A flag, at least to nationalists and Irish Republicans, is a source of pride, of history and togetherness. Because it isn’t flown on every dirty lamp post it enshrines a sense of belonging to something bigger and better, something to achieve and fight for. For Unionists, however, it seems their Union flag is something to be used and abused. It is used to incite hatred, instil fear and set boundaries when twinned with paramilitary flags and emblems.
I was driving up the Newtownards Road in Belfast only last week and was stopped by a man in a hi-viz vest. This fine gent wasn’t a ‘workman’ or an official person of standing but a traffic management person (to give this man what is, I’m sure, his official title within Loyalism). He was stopping the traffic on the Newtownards Road along with his colleague further up the road for a telehandler with two men in the cage on the front which was weaving to and fro across the road putting up Union and UVF flags. For those not in the know, the Newtownards Road is a main thoroughfare through East Belfast and a very busy road so one can only imagine the chaos caused by two eejits stopping traffic for two more eejits in a cage putting up flags. To make sure the authority of the hi-viz-wearing traffic management persons wasn’t questioned or challenged, standing at the side of the road were around 15 – 20 dodgy-looking fellows all wearing hoods and baseballs caps mulling around menacingly keeping a sharp eye on the progress of eejits 1,2,3 and, 4.
While claiming British nationality and having a strange way of showing pride in their flag, Unionists also show utter disrespect for their flag by using it to mark out territory, just as on the Newtownards Road flown side by side with UVF flags of the East Belfast UVF, and on the Antrim Road in Ballymena and of course other areas the length and breadth of NEI. Lining main roads with the Union flag for what I assume is a celebration of King Charles’ coronation, only to have them left there to become tattered and torn, dirty and decrepit is what people have come to expect from the flaggers.
The Union flag is also a symbol of oppression the world over, of dominion and colonial rule. For instance, the hullabaloo of the Tricolour being flown over Stormont for a few minutes in 2015 ended in a police investigation. Aren’t we supposed to be ‘sharing’ this place? You see the Union flag is still a piece of cloth to beat Irish nationalists and Republicans with. It’s still used to say ‘You’re in Britain until we say so’ and because of that, it shows the sheer fragility of Northern Irish Unionism, how they need to abuse their flag to appear powerful and strong.
During Easter, I was in Killough in County Down (beautiful village by the way) and drove past two small cottages near the mini roundabout, with one flying the Tricolour. There were no other flags other than that one Tricolour flying in the entire village and the sight dragged the words “Would you look at that” out of me. It still strikes me with awe seeing the Tricolour flying and I think it’s because it is rarely flown inappropriately, almost always on a flag pole and only on certain days and occasions which is fine by me. I’d rather see the Tricolour flown with respect and dignity on one day of the year than on a dirty old lamp post every day of the year and I never want to see it shown the utter disrespect that Unionists show their flag by using it to mark out territory for drug gangs and paramilitary groups.
“A National Flag is the most sacred thing a nation can possess.”
– Thomas Francis Meagher.
I think loyalists are insecure about their position, they need constant reminders of their ‘Britishness’, whereas Nationalists sort of know they are Irish and don’t need the same validation.