Calls for 'spotlight' on national flag

Cavan County Council is being urged to ensure “appropriate protocol” is being followed in its display of the Republic of Ireland’s national flag at public buildings in line with the national etiquette.

Cllr Stiofán Conaty (SF) proposed a motion to that effect at the November meeting of the local authority last week. He highlighted, for example, how after sunset the flag "should be flown with a spotlight on it”.

“It’s something that is very easy to do,” he added before Cllr Noel Connell (SF) seconded the motion. “There is nothing as bad as seeing the flag flying and it torn or not in the condition that it should be in,” he said.

Fianna Fáil's Clifford Kelly added: “This is about a simple rule change that, once the flag is flying at night, it should be lit up.”

Cllr Trevor Smith (FG) opinion that there are occasions when the flag “isn’t getting the respect it deserves”.

"There are rules for dealing with the flag; sometimes when you see it at political rallies or during sporting achievements, the people aren’t giving it the respect that it deserves," explained Cllr Smith.

In response, Lynda Gavigan, Director of Services indicated that Cavan County Council had engaged a contractor to put in a spotlight so that “it will illuminate the flag when it’s flying at night - in the same way that the courthouse is illuminated”.

“As you have rightly pointed out, this is about a change in protocol and once the light is in place, we will be able to leave the flag up all the time then,” she said.

“At the moment, the focus is on the flagpole at the green but we are also looking to make arrangements for the flagpole on the top of the courthouse. That will probably take a little bit longer to achieve because there is a lot more work involved. Then we will look at having either one or the other," clarified Ms Gavigan.