OUR NATIONAL FLAG
Children
the focus
for flag
project
Every school in the State
will be getting a new national
flag, writes Graham Clifford
8 | Irish Independent 1916 Youth and Imagination Programme
OUR NATIONAL FLAG
Eileen Rowden folds the handmade flags at the Dublin factory of Project Design
Irish Flag manufacturers. Left: A Tricolour flies outside Government Buildings.
F
ROM Bundoran to Ballybunion
and after, so that this flag could be flown
and Dundalk to Dunquin, school
by its people, and that this nation could
children are being visited by
take its place among the world’s free
members of the Defence Forces
nations.”
courtesy of the ‘2016 Flags for Schools
Minister Humphreys said “our flag
Initiative’.
symbolises the aspiration for peace
By the end of February next year,
between the different traditions on this
teams of army personnel will have
island” — a theme explained to pupils
visited more than 3,200 national schools
when the new flags are presented.
delivering an Irish flag to every school
For the Defence Force personnel the
and a copy of the 1916 Proclamation as
initiative also provides them with an
well as a pack, containing a booklet on
opportunity to meet and speak with
how to care for the Flag, and a poster
children who otherwise might not have
with the words of our national anthem,
had any interaction with those in the
Amhrán na bhFiann.
armed services.
“Logistically it’s a challenging
“To a degree it allows us to come out
initiative for the Defence Forces but one
from behind the barrack walls and that’s
that’s very important and rewarding.
great for both the children and for us
The welcome we’ve received from school
also,” explains Commandant MacEoin.
children and teachers across Ireland so
“Each team that visits a school is led
far has been phenomenal,” explained
by an Officer or senior NCO and we
Commandant Stephen MacEoin who
allow time for questions and chat with
is coordinating the Flags for Schools
the children. As well as learning about
Initiative on behalf of
the flag, of which
the Defence Forces.
we in the Defence
The highforces are guardians,
quality hand-made
the children are also
national flags are
learning about the
manufactured by
work we do on a dayProspect Design, a
to-day basis both here
family-run business
in Ireland and around
off Camden Street
the world.”
in Dublin which has
The initial
been making flags
logistical focus is
since 1947, and can
on getting the flags
be mounted both
to schools in more
outdoors and indoors.
remote parts of the
When the Defence
The ‘Flags for Schools’ programme country first before
Forces team visit each was launched on September 14th adverse winter
school they present
when the Taoiseach Enda Kenny weather conditions
the flag to a nominated
oversaw the delivery of
make travelling to
student or group of
the national flag to his
rural parts of the
students.
former primary school in
country more
At the Portarlington
Cornanool, outside
difficult and timePresentation Primary School,
Castlebar.
consuming.
Sergeant Rena Kennedy had the
Meanwhile, the Thomas F
honour of presenting the flag to her
Meagher Foundation, named after
daughter Ruth who is in second class.
the man credited with unveiling the
And Commandant MacEoin told of how
tricolour for the first time in 1848, will
other such special moments are being
present a new flag to every secondary
replicated across the country.
school in the country in time for next
“We do have other stories already
year’s Easter commemorations.
of army personnel returning to their
The ‘Flags for Schools’ programme
own primary schools to present the flag
will culminate in Proclamation Day
and Proclamation. It’s a very special
on March 15, 2016, where every school
moment for each of them and great for
will raise the national flag in special
the children to see one of their own in
ceremonies and the 1916 Proclamation
uniform.”
will be read out.
The ‘Flags for Schools’ programme
“That will be such a special day for the
was launched on September 14 when
country. To see our national flag flying
the Taoiseach Enda Kenny oversaw the
high from every educational institution
delivery of the national flag to his former
in the country,” said Commandant
primary school in Cornanool, outside
MacEoin.
Castlebar.
And throughout 2016, there will
The Taoiseach, who was joined by
be more ceremonies, events and
Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan and
programmes marking the significance
Minister for Arts, Heritage and the
of our national flag. On New Years’ Day
Gaeltacht Heather Humphreys, said
2016 a flag raising ceremony will take
the purpose of the ‘Flags for Schools’
place at Dublin Castle and the tricolour
initiative is to “remember the great
will be raised every day during 2016 on
sacrifice of the people who fought in 1916
O’Connell Street, outside the GPO.
Irish Independent I 15 October 2015
DISCOVER
Junior infants’ pupil Daragh O’Donnell, a greatnephew of Sean MacDiarmada, one of the
signatories of the 1916 Proclamation, receiving the
national flag from Lt. Emma Harney at Maynooth Boys’
National School, Co Kildare. Darragh’s mother, Denise
O’Donnell, grew up near Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim,
very close to the Kiltyclogher village birthplace of
MacDiarmada. Denise is a grand-daughter of Annie
McDermott, a first cousin of Sean Mac Diarmada.
Annie’s father, Denis McMorrow was a brother of Sean
MacDiarmada’s mother, Mary McMorrow.
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MORE ABOUT THE
FLAGS FOR SCHOOLS
INITIATIVE
I
N the shadow of the McGillicuddy
Reeks, Curraheen National
School in Glenbeigh was amongst
the first in the country to receive
its tricolour and copy of the
Proclamation under the ‘Flags for
Schools’ initiative.
The picturesque 32-pupil school
outside the village of Glenbeigh
on the Ring of Kerry was first
opened in 1909 but this is thought
to be the first time it has possessed
its very own national flag — a
fact celebrated by the children
attending the school.
“Two army personnel presented
the flag to our youngest and eldest
children, Kevin Walsh (4) and
Samantha Riordan (12),” explains
Principal Evelyn O’Shea who
believes the initiative also offers
children across the country the
chance to meet members of the
Defence Forces for the first time.
“A lot of our pupils were so
excited to see the soldiers coming
here in uniform,” she says. “For
most it was the first time they had
spoken to anyone from the army
and they asked them questions
about their roles. An officer spoke
simply and clearly to our pupils and
spent a lot of time explaining the
significance of this event and the
work that they do, especially with
regards to peace keeping abroad.”
15 October 2015 I Irish Independent
Kevin Walsh (4) the youngest pupil holds the Proclamation while
Samantha Riordan (12) the eldest holds the Tricolour with principal
Evelyn O’Shea at Curraheen National School, Glenbeigh, County Kerry.
And fourth class students
Darragh Lynch and Leona Clifford
(both 10) says the visit helped
them to better understand the
significance of what happened in
1916.
“We’re looking forward to flying
the flag outside our school in March
next year along with other schools
across Ireland,” says Darragh, while
Leona adds: “By listening to the
Proclamation being read out and
understanding how to look after
and fly our flag we’re learning
why 1916 was so important for our
country. The soldiers spoke to us
for well over an hour and it was so
great that we could ask them our
questions and have them in our
school.”
Teachers and pupils at the school
are also planning to work on a
project and exhibition recalling the
role the local community played in
the events of 1916 and the fight for
Independence.
Mary Hannon (10) a pupil of
St Raphael’s Special School,
Celbridge, Co Kildare, proudly
wearing the Old IRA service
medal awarded to her greatgrandfather, Michael Lynch (right)
of Milford, Kilmaine, Co Mayo at the
presentation of a flag by members
of the Defence Forces to her school.
Michael Lynch was a commandant in the
South Mayo Brigade of the Old IRA. Mary is pictured
with Sgt Amy Hopkins and Lt Stephen Cunningham.
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Irish Independent 1916 Youth and Imagination Programme | 9