Flags for Schools wraps up with Tricolour at Tallaght hospital

One of the most quietly effective projects of the 1916 centenary commemorations concluded on Friday when children attending the tiny Tallaght hospital school as patients were presented with the Tricolour – the national flag – by members of the Defence Forces.

The hospital school – a registered one-room school with a full-time primary teacher, which is open from 9am to 2.30pm, Monday to Friday – was the last school in the Republic to receive a flag under the Flags for Schools initiative.

Since September, 3,200 Tricolours have been distributed by Defence Forces members.

On each occasion, the history and appropriate use of the Tricolour has been explained, along with its symbolic significance – green for Irish republicanism, dating from the United Irishmen; orange for Ireland’s minority tradition, dating from the Williamite wars of the 17th century; and white signifying the desire for peaceful co-existence between the two.

Proclamation

Children have also been told about the 1916 Proclamation and presented with a poster of the lyrics of the national anthem, Amhrán na bhFiann.

It is hoped all schools will use the flag and what they have learned to mark Proclamation Day on March 15th.

The Ireland 2016 Centenary organisers hope that on that day, schools will share with parents and their communities their own Proclamation for a New Generation, which can include theatrical displays or poetry and music events.

Six pupils were in Tallaght hospital's school today to receive the presentation from Lt Deirdre Fahy and Cpl Gary McKenzie, both of 7th Infantry Battalion, in the presence of Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Vice-Admiral Mark Mellett and acting Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

Sharing knowledge about the symbolism and values of the national flag with children was a valuable legacy of the centenary programme, said Mr Kenny, adding the Defence Forces had carried out the task of visiting all schools “with enthusiasm, passion and commitment”.

Vice-Admiral Mellett said the Defence Forces had been “privileged to have this opportunity to educate and engage the youth of Ireland on the flag and Proclamation of our country”.

Tallaght hospital’s historical connections to the Rising relate to Kathleen Lynn (1874-1955) and Ella Webb (1877-1946), both of whom played key roles in the events of 1916 and have wards at the hospital named after them.