Let’s be proud of the national flag again

FOR a year after 9/11 there were large Stars and Stripes on every avenue in California; people attached little flags to their cars and baseball caps.

In England, T-shirts, car cushions and bar-room flags are now appearing regularly bearing the St George Cross. In my local in Nottingham there is a long string of little St George flags along the bar, nicely intertwined with the Christmas fairylights.

It makes me wonder when the Irish will feel able once again to wear the Tricolor in this proud way.

If anyone walked into the pub wearing a tricoloured t-shirt or hat, up ‘til very recently we would have branded him an IRA supporter.

The bad fashion move would have conjured up memories of too many crimes.

These would have precluded us from wearing our national flag with anything like pride, or sartorial savvy.

If we really want to revive our Irish identity, why not put a Tricolor T-shirt or baseball cap in the Christmas stocking? It’s a highly fashionable gesture on the high streets of Nottingham and San Francisco.

It seems a small step now for us finally to take the Tricolor out of the closet.

Michael O’Sullivan

15 Grove Avenue

Beeston

Nottingham N694ED

England