Irish Republican News · August 27, 2004

Take it down from the lamp-post - SF

East Derry Sinn Féin assembly member Francie Brolly has called for the removal of Irish tricolours from lamp-posts in the Six Counties.

Sinn Féin’s culture spokesman said the abundance of flags in many nationalist areas effectively turned some streets into “high-rise clothes lines”.

Calling for proper procedures to be followed when flying tricolours, he said the manner in which many were flown, and their condition, amounted to dishonouring the national flag.

Mr Brolly said many nationalist areas in the North mirrored unionist areas by erecting large numbers of flags along streets and housing estates.

“We nail it to a piece of timber and tape it to a lamppost or a telegraph pole or a drainpipe or any old upright at all and leave it their day and night until wind and weather put it out of its misery,” he said.

“Indeed some people seem to think that one tricolour is not enough, especially when there are plenty of lampposts and telegraph poles and drainpipes available.

“When the national flag becomes worn or frayed it is no longer fit for display and should not be used in any manner implying disrespect,” the assembly member added.

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