Longford County Council to take action on illegal flag

An illegally raised flag on Longford town's Market Square will be removed by Longford County Council.

The flag features the symbols of the four provinces of Ireland and was the subject of debate at the January meeting of Longford Municipal District members.

Four provinces' flags have been appearing all over the country since 2022, but the hoisting of the flat on the town centre flagpole is a recent occurrence.

Longford is one of many locations around the country where the flag flies on ESB poles, at roundabouts, and on poles along the motorways.

The Ireland Four Provinces flag incorporates the flags of the four Irish provinces of Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connacht.

Cllr Seamus Butler asked the Executive to remove the town centre flag: “Longford, in common with many towns around the country, is inundated with flags on lamp posts bearing the symbols of the four provinces. They have the cheek to use the flagpole on the Market Square.”

Cllr Butler speculated on the origin of the symbol: “My understanding is that these originate from a splinter Republican group who are campaigning for a united Ireland.

“Putting it up on our flagpole on the Market Square, without any authorisation, is an affront. It should be removed immediately. As far as I am concerned it is littering,” he said.

John Brannigan, the Director of Services with Responsibility for Housing, Planning, Regeneration and Capital Projects, assured the members action would be taken on the matter: “We will remove it, and any other we see that have been erected illegally. There is no consent from us. It is similar to any poster or advertisement, if it's not authorised it is illegal.”