The earliest attested
use of a tricolour flag was in 1848 when it was adopted by the Young
Ireland movement under the influence of another French revolution. Speeches
made at that time by the Young Ireland leader Thomas Francis Meagher
suggest that it was regarded as an innovation and not as the revival
of an older
flag.
The green represents the older Gaelic tradition while the orange represents the
supporters of William of Orange. The white in the centre signifies a lasting
truce between the 'Orange' and the 'Green'.
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