Saint Patrick's Saltire or Saint Patrick's Cross is a red saltire (X-shaped cross) on a white field, used to represent the island of Ireland or Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. In heraldic language, it may be blazoned Argent, a saltire gules. Saint Patrick's Flag is a flag composed of Saint Patrick's Saltire.
There is no universally accepted flag for the island of Ireland. Saint Patrick's Saltire dates only from the late eighteenth century, although there is some evidence of a similar saltire's earlier use as a symbol of Ireland, possibly deriving from the coat of arms of the powerful Geraldine or FitzGerald dynasty. Its relatively recent origins have led to it being rejected by most Irish nationalists as a "British invention", although it predates the use of the Irish national flag by at least 150 years.
St. Patrick's Saltire was first used in the regalia of the Order of Saint Patrick, a British chivalric order established in 1783 by George III, and later in the arms and flags of a number of institutions. After the 1800 Act of Union joined the Kingdom of Ireland with the Kingdom of Great Britain, the saltire was added to the British flag to form the Union Flag still used by the United Kingdom. The saltire has occasionally served unofficially to represent Northern Ireland and been considered less contentious than other flags flown there.
Read more about Saint Patrick's Saltire: Origins, Modern Use of The Flag, Other Symbols of Ireland, Unrelated Similar Saltires, See Also, References
Famous quotes containing the words saint patrick, saint and/or patrick:
“O Paddy dear, an’ did ye hear the news that’s goin’ round?
The shamrock is by law forbid to grow on Irish ground!
No more Saint Patrick’s Day we’ll keep, his colour can’t be seen,
For there’s a cruel law agin the wearin’ o’ the Green!”
—Unknown. The Wearing of the Green (l. 37–40)
“The worst of madmen is a saint run mad.”
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744)
“One of your biggest jobs as a parent of multiples is no bigger than simply talking to your children individually and requiring that they respond to you individually as well. The benefits of this kind of communication can be enormous, in terms of the relationship you develop with each child, in terms of their language development, and eventually in terms of their sense of individuality, too.”
—Pamela Patrick Novotny (20th century)