Cross-border Flag For Ireland - Saint Patrick's Saltire

Saint Patrick's Saltire

The Saint Patrick's saltire was incorporated into the Union Flag in 1801 by way of the Act of Union 1800 to represent Ireland within the new United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Today, those who regard the tricolour as specific to the Republic of Ireland, or excluding unionists, may advocate it as a neutral symbol of the whole island.

The Church of Ireland orders that, apart from its own flag, only this saltire may be flown on its church grounds—as opposed to the tricolour, the Union Flag or the former flag of Northern Ireland. This follows the practice of other Anglican churches in England, Scotland, and Wales, which fly the flags of their respective patron saints instead of the Union Flag.

The saltire is also flown by St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, on graduation days, and so it can be argued that the St. Patrick's Cross flag is used by the main Protestant church in the island and the Roman Catholic Church.

Modified versions have been used formerly by the Irish Rugby Football Union, and currently by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and the Commissioners of Irish Lights.