THE ISSUE OF tricolours being displayed across streets in Dublin and in other areas formed the basis of one of the first questions to the three candidates taking part in Monday night’s presidential debate on Virgin Media. 

Catherine Connolly, Heather Humphreys and Jim Gavin were all asked for their opinions on the matter by host Kieran Cuddihy during the first half of the Tonight Show debate. 

Viewers who didn’t happen to live in one of the areas where the flags have been displayed may have been somewhat unfamiliar with the wider conversation over the issue, which only briefly featured in the national headlines in recent weeks.

So what’s behind the debate over the flying of the tricolours – and what did the three candidates say? 

Councils consider action 

The issue first made the news at the start of September, when Dublin City Council suggested it would take action over the impromptu appearance of the flag on lampposts around the capital.

This was amid concerns that the flags were being used as a form of ‘territorial marking’ rather than straightforward patriotism. Some groups reacted strongly to the idea of the council removing the flag. 

Many in favour of flying the flag insist it’s being done to show patriotism, but others have said the motivation stems from anti-migrant sentiment amid tensions over immigration.

The flags began appearing in the city over the summer and followed a similar trend in England, where union jacks and white flags bearing the red St George’s Cross began to appear in large numbers in towns and cities. 

In the weeks since those early displays in Dublin flags have also been hung across streets in other areas of the country – most notably in Cork, where they were erected across lamp-posts and bridges in recent days. 

Asked about the issue, Cork City Council said the hanging of flags and banners on public infrastructure was not allowed and that it was “actively considering” its response. 

Tricolour flags hanging on poles on North Strand Street in Dublin early last month. Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie / RollingNews.ie

The dispute over the hanging of the tricolour reflects a wider unease over how the flag has been appropriated by anti-immigrant groups seeking to “reclaim” it, and follows a similar trend playing out in the UK. 

In a move widely seen as an attempt by Prime Minister Keir Starmer to himself reclaim the flag from anti-migrant groups, Union Jacks were handed out to delegates at the Labour party conference this week, alongside the flags of England, Scotland and Wales, to be waved during the leader’s keynote speech.

What did the candidates say?

Speaking at his campaign launch on Sunday, Gavin, the Fianna Fáil candidate, said he was against extreme groups on the left or right misusing the flag for their own aims. 

The former Dublin GAA manager’s answer likely prompted Cuddihy’s decision to raise the issue close to the top of the programme on Monday night.

When asked in the debate about the use of Irish flags by anti-migrant groups, Gavin  insisted it was the case that when people raise the flag they’re “speaking to inclusion and equality”.

“I’m very proud of our tricolour. I’m a proud Republican. I believe in our country,” he said.

He didn’t comment in his answer on whether the flags should be removed or not.

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On the same question, former Fine Gael minister Heather Humphreys also declined to say whether the flags should be removed or not, but said the true meaning of the flag should be explained to people.

“I think we need to speak to people to let them understand that that is wrong. We do not want a divisive society.”

“Our flag is a symbol of unity. It should not be used as a symbol of division”.

Independent candidate Connolly, who is being backed by various left-wing parties including Sinn Féin, also did not say whether the flags should be removed.

She spoke in her answer against the “extraordinarily loud and vocal” small group of people who use the flag to sow division and claim “the country is full”.

She described the behaviour as “abhorrent”, and said it has occurred due to an information vacuum.

“A vacuum has arisen that allows this particular group to turn their anger in the wrong way and on the wrong people and the use of the symbol in the wrong manner.”