The Deirdre O'Shaughnessy Podcast: John Crotty on the history and symbolism behind the Irish tricolour

Who first combined the green, orange and white, whose idea was it, what did it mean and why were other symbols rejected?

Historian John Crotty joins Deirdre to discuss his new book 'The Irish tricolour: The truth behind the symbols and struggles that defined the nation'

Flags have become increasingly controversial in recent years. 

The US flag has become shorthand for MAGA and the Irish flag is under increasing strain, with its appearance on flagpoles all over Ireland signalling that immigrants are unwelcome.