'Administrative error' sees Tricolour flags over Limerick bridge removed

COUNCIL staff were forced to replace a number of Tricolour flags from one of the main routes into the city after a slogan was printed on them.

The local authority has blamed an “administrative error” for the appearance of the words : ‘Féile Pádraig Luimnigh’ on the national flag.

Dozens of flags with writing in green on the white section of the Tricolour were flying along the Shannon Bridge this Monday - but they had been removed by Tuesday morning.

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The National Flag Guidelines, published by Government state that the Tricolour should never have writing on it.

Section 13 of the guidance states: “The national flag should never be defaced by placing slogans, logos, lettering or pictures of any kind on it, for example at sporting events.”

Limerick City and County Council would have erected the flags in time for St Patrick’s Day.

Translated into English, the wording on them reads: ‘Limerick St Patrick’s Day’.

Contacted for comment, a local authority spokesperson stated: “The Tricolour flags you are referring to resulted from an administrative error. On identifying the error, Limerick City and County Council has taken immediate action to have the flags removed.”

“We expect this work to be carried out very shortly.”

Limerick Live this Tuesday morning noted that new Tricolour flags - without any writing on them - had been hoisted over Shannon Bridge.

Sinn Fein TD Maurice Quinlivan welcomed the quick action taken by Limerick City and County Council.

“There has always been a protocol, and it’s always been sensitive - don’t ever write anything on the Tricolour. The Tricolour should just be the Tricolour. It’s an important flag, there is a history around where it came from, and what it stands for, said Mr Quinlivan.

Traditionally, flags flown on the city’s bridges reflect things happening in the city.

For example, next month, it’s likely Riverfest flags will be erected in the run-up to the May Bank Holiday festival.

The red flag of Munster Rugby is raised when the province has a big game.

Likewise, when the county’s GAA sides take to the field, green and white Limerick flags appear.

The Limerick City TD believes the Tricolour flag should be flown above the city on more occasions too.

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“The Six Nations is on at the moment, and a lot of Limerick people are particularly invested in supporting the Irish team.

“Then we have the St Patrick’s Day festival, as well as Easter Sunday and Monday,” he said.

He added there are high hopes the Tricolour will be flying high in Limerick during the soccer World Cup in USA, Mexico and Canada this summer, should Ireland qualify.