'Cork welcomes everyone': Locals urged council to remove Irish flags from lampposts

Tricolour flags flying from lampposts in Dublin. Flags were later seen hung in Cork. File picture: Colin Keegan/Collins

Members of the Cork public pleaded with a local authority to take down Irish flags from lampposts, saying they were only there to intimidate people.

Complaints to Cork City Council said masked men hanging the tricolour in the dead of night had only one intent, which was to “assert racism” and frighten non-Irish people.

One resident said: “I was wondering if you had a plan to take care of this and send a message out that Cork is a place that welcomes everyone and that does not condone racism.

“I, of course, cannot ask you to take the flags down, but it would be great if the council could say something about this.” 

Another wrote of how the etiquette for displaying the Irish tricolour was not being followed, with most of them “flown at half-mast”. 

A message said: “I am very proud of our flag. However, I feel the way it is being displayed at the moment is very disrespectful to all who died for it.” 

One person said the use of the tricolour in this way was “disrespectful to its true meaning”. They wrote: “As an Irish citizen, I strongly object to the hijacking of our national flag by [right-wing] actors and their supporters.” 

Another said several lampposts around City Hall — and in other areas — had the flags attached only with cable ties.

“The reason these flags are being raised in the first place is deplorable and it is totally illegal for them to be flown in this manner,” the complaint said.

One person cited the Constitution, saying it was intended that the tricolour be displayed only from sunrise to sunset, except on special occasions.

They said it was clear the only reason for the hanging of flags in Cork City was as a “method of intimidation”. The flags were subsequently taken down by the council, with one complaint subsequently received objecting to their removal.

It read: “Absolutely appalled to hear that Cork City Council removed numerous Irish flags that were flying around the city.

“You had no problem hoisting the Ukraine flag, the queer flag, and the Hamas flag everywhere in Cork, and even on the City Hall. What a bunch of anti-Irish Marxists you are. Shame on you!” 

Asked about the flags, Cork City Council said it did not permit the attaching of any items to public street light poles on health and safety grounds without prior approval.

A spokesman said: “[Legislation] provides local authorities the power to remove unauthorised (erected without permission of the property owner) flags or any other articles from public places.

“The city council acts as quickly as possible to remove any items attached without permission to public infrastructure. The removal of such items is a routine operational matter.”