One flag that won't end up on a lamp-post.

Now I don't know whether much of the Northern Bank millions remains unspent by Sinn Féin and the IRA, but if there is a spare $500,000 still lying around republican coffers it could serve as an opening bid for this rather flimsy looking item.

The Bloomsbury auction house in New York is charged with selling "the only full-sized tricolour of the 1916 rising extant". Apparently it was retrieved by British forces from the GPO in Dublin.

It might be, as the blurb points out, a flag "of enormous historic importance", but I would suggest, whoever buys this piece of Irish linen has too much money. It's estimated to raise between $500,000 - $700,000 USD!

Comments

Timothy Belmont said…
There'll be abundant numbers of them on display in New York, Boston et al in two days' time.

We could start a competition for Spot the Union Jack, since most Irish-Americans are in denial about the Unionist heritage and allegiance.
15 March 2010 at 11:28
Owen Polley said…
And a few on the streets of Belfast no doubt too Tim. Not very inclusive I'm afraid!
15 March 2010 at 11:30
Gary said…
What do you two mean???? It has Green for Nationalists, Orange for "Unionists" and White for the peace between!!! How much more inclusive do you want!!!! Have you got a tongue in cheek smiley?
15 March 2010 at 17:55
Timothy Belmont said…
The Union Jack has the Cross of St Patrick, which represents Ireland; and it pre-dates the Irish tricolour flag, too.

Why should orange represent Unionists? I am not an Orangeman, nor are many Unionists.
15 March 2010 at 21:12
Anonymous said…
Well said Timothy (re. the orange bit). On that subject, the item to be auctioned looks more like Green, White and Yellow. Yellow perhaps representing the cowardly plant a bomb and run away mentality of Irish freedom fighers?
17 March 2010 at 07:25
Gary said…
Chekov if only you had that smiley.........
17 March 2010 at 15:43
shane said…
"The Union Jack has the Cross of St Patrick, which represents Ireland"

This falls at the same hurdle: not everyone in Ireland is Christian.
17 March 2010 at 21:01
Anonymous said…
The cross of St Patrick is an English invention - it's not native to Ireland. And I bet the flag's a fake.

Smasher
19 March 2010 at 10:12
Anonymous said…
"The cross of St Patrick is an English invention"

Oh dear that old baloney - the Cross of St Patrick was not invented by the English. It apeared on old maps and coinage.
19 March 2010 at 11:19
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