Starry Plough Flag 6x4

White / 72INX48IN

€46,95

Starry Plough Flag 6x4

€46,95

72 inches long, 48 inches wide, 6th x 4ft

These are not the cheap 5x3 low quality flags

The Starry Plough flag (Irish: An Camchéachta) is one of the most significant symbols of Irish socialism, trade unionism, and republicanism. Originally created in 1914 for the Irish Citizen Army (ICA), its imagery connects the working class to the destiny of a free nation. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]

Origins and Design (1914)

The flag was officially unveiled on 4 April 1914 at Liberty Hall in Dublin. It was commissioned by the Irish Citizen Army, a worker's militia formed by James Connolly, James Larkin, and Jack White during the 1913 Dublin Lockout to protect striking workers from police brutality. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

The Visionary: The conceptual idea is largely attributed to intellectual and writer George William Russell, while the actual artistic design was executed by William H. Megahy. [1, 2]
The Symbolism: The flag featured a golden-yellow farm plough against a deep green background, superimposed with the seven silver stars of the Ursa Major constellation (commonly known as "The Plough" in Ireland and Britain, or the "Big Dipper" in North America). [1, 2, 3]
The Sword Coulter: The cutting blade (coulter) of the plough was shaped as a sword. This served as a biblical allusion to Isaiah 2:4 ("beating swords into ploughshares"), symbolising an ultimate desire for peace, but also the reality of workers forced to take up arms for freedom. [1, 2, 3, 4]

James Connolly famously summarised the flag's underlying message: "A free Ireland will control its own destiny from the plough to the stars." [1, 2]

The 1916 Easter Rising

The flag earned its legendary status during the 1916 Easter Rising. On Easter Tuesday, ICA commander James Connolly ordered the Starry Plough to be hoisted over the Imperial Hotel on Sackville Street (now O'Connell Street), directly opposite the General Post Office (GPO) where the Irish Tricolour flew. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Though the building was shell-shocked and gutted by fires during the rebellion, the flag survived. It was captured as a war trophy by British Army Lieutenant T.A. Williams. The original flag was eventually returned to Ireland in 1956 and is currently preserved and displayed at the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Evolution to the Blue Flag (1930s)

In 1934, the socialist movement Republican Congress sought to adopt the Starry Plough as their banner. Because the original flag was still locked away in London at the time, activists relied on the foggy memories of aging 1916 veterans to recreate it. [1, 2]

The Color Shift: A dispute arose regarding the original background color; while some remembered green, others swore it was sky blue.
The Modern Look: The Republican Congress ultimately adopted a streamlined design: seven silver stars arranged in the shape of the Plough constellation on a bright blue field, entirely removing the physical graphic of the agricultural tool. [1, 2, 3]

This simplified blue banner became highly popular across international socialist networks and Irish trade unions. [1, 2]

Modern Usage

Today, both variations of the Starry Plough remain heavily utilised cultural icons: [1, 2]

Political Parties: The flag is used by left-wing political entities, including the Irish Labour Party (which uses a stylized star-and-plough logo), Sinn Féin, and the Irish Republican Socialist Movement.
Trade Unions: It continues to be marched at rallies by major trade unions like SIPTU. [1, 2]
Cultural Legacy: Its name was immortalised by playwright Seán O'Casey in his renowned 1926 Abbey Theatre play, The Plough and the Stars.