Letter: Amid suggestion of a new flag for Northern Ireland, there's still support for Ulster Banner at the Commonwealth Games
A letter from Ian Fawley:
Edward Ferrin suggests there should be a sensible debate on a new flag, anthem, identity and symbols for Northern Ireland, and thinks unionist representatives should lead it (The Ulster Banner debate raises huge question over unionist desire to be a region or a nation within the Union, February 1).
If this happened, before their introduction it would be insisted on by the government that they had to have cross community support. Why would those who wish to see the end of the Northern Irish state take part in such an exercise?
When the home nations decided to compete individually at what was originally called the Empire Games, it would have been confusing for Northern Ireland to fly the Union Flag, therefore they decided upon the Ulster Banner.
Many of Northern Ireland’s greatest sporting achievements - from getting to the quarter finals of the World Cup in 1958, to Wayne McCullough being sung Danny Boy by Ulster exile Bob Gibson at the 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games, when due to technical issues the public address system broke down, or one of Rory McIlroy’s golfing victories etc - saw the Ulster Banner being flown.
My original letter (The Ulster Banner symbolises athletes from all backgrounds in NI - who would want to lead the country out behind a logo?, January 17) mentioned by Mr Ferrin was in relation to the games and Northern Irish sport.
I believe a recent opinion poll still shows significant support for the Ulster Banner being used at the Commonwealth Games.
As for Pierre Trudeau and Canada being referred to, a new flag was introduced in 1965 - the Maple Leaf.
But a few weeks after, in response, the Canadian provinces adopted their own flags – Ontario’s being very similar to the previous Red Ensign that had been Canada’s retired flag; Ontario’s new provincial flag proclaiming its British heritage and loyalty to Canada.
The state premier John Robarts, Conservative leader and former prime minister John Diefenbaker and the Canadian Legion were all against the change of Canada’s flag.
Ian Fawley, Southport