Festivities to flag tricolour’s arrival

CELEBRATIONS marking the first appearance of the Irish tricolour in 1848 will be taking place in March in the city where the flag was originally unveiled.

Thomas Francis Meagher presented the tricolour and spoke of its symbolism on March 7,1848, at The Mall in Waterford city. And 18:48hrs is the time at which a weekend of commemoration will kick off on March 5 next.

Plans for the event have been approved by Waterford City Council and will start with a function at the House of Waterford Crystal and will also include a Leviathan evening of political theatre hosted by David McWilliams.

A flag-raising ceremony and civic event will be held between 1 and 3pm on Sunday, March 6 at The Mall in Waterford.

The weekend is the brainchild of Waterford man Cian Foley and history enthusiast James Doherty.

Mr Doherty said that the flag was first unveiled by Thomas Francis Meagher, leader of the Young Irelanders’ rebellion, at 33, The Mall, Waterford and was later presented to the city of Dublin.

“The white in the centre signifies a lasting truce between the ‘orange’ and the ‘green’,” Meagher said at the time, “and I trust that beneath its folds the hands of the Irish protestant and Irish catholic may be clasped in generous and heroic brotherhood.”

* www.1848tricolour.com