Naval Service - Flags and Pennants
The Naval Ensign
The National flag is used as the civil and state flag, and civil and naval ensign. The flag is the tricolour of green, white and orange and is divided into three stripes, equal in width and height.
The tricolour is essentially a flag of union and its origins date back to the early nineteenth century.
It is emblematic of the fusion of the older elements (green) and with the newer elements (orange). The combination of both colours in the tricolour, with the white between, is a token of brotherhood, symbolises the union of the different stocks in a common nationality.
The Naval Jack
The Naval Jack, which is worn whenever the Naval Ensign is worn except when a ship is underway. It consists of a green flag with a embroidered yellow harp and silver strings. Also known as the Arms of Ireland, this flag was the unofficial national flag of Ireland from 1798 until the early 20th century.
A gold harp on a blue field had been the arms of Ireland since the 16th century, but the United Irishmen changed the colour of the field from blue to green - a colour which symbolised revolution in the late 18th century. It is flown in addition to the Naval Ensign, by Naval Ships at the Jack staff when at anchor, moored, alongside or when under way and dressed with Masthead Ensigns. It is hoisted and half masted at the same time and in like manner as the Naval Ensign.
The Naval Jack is not be worn by a ship in dry dock or during refit. It is also worn on a naval ship or naval shore installation where a court-martial is sitting. If the court-martial is sitting in a ship, the Naval Jack shall also be flown at the yardarm. It shall be hoisted at Colours and lowered when the court adjourns or disperses.
The Naval Service Colour
The Naval Service Colour is a double-sided square banner. The primary colour is navy blue on both sides. The obverse side carries the Defence Forces badge at the centre superimposed over a pair of crossed silver foul anchors. The reverse side bears a Gold harp with silver strings enclosed in a gold grommet or continuous rope ring. Below the grommet are the words 'An tSeirbhis Chabhlaigh'. The colour is bordered by a two inch wide gold fringe.
Apart from the Naval Service Colour, each individual ships carries a pennant, which is a smaller navy blue flag, also square and fringed. the obverse side shows the ships coat of arms or crest as it is more commonly (but incorrectly) known, while the reverse bears a foul anchor in gold. The pennant would be worn by the ships company on ceremonial parades and displayed near the gangway on important occasions.
It has also been stated that it not usual for Navies to have colours. Very many have a distinctive national ensign, and this serves as its colour as it differs from the national flag. However, countries that do not have a naval ensign usually have a naval colour and it is into this category that the Naval Service Colour falls. It is usually the practice that colours are presented to a unit by some national figure, often the head of state, who touches the colour during the ceremony. This goes tradition goes back to the Romans, when the Emperor would presented the eagles to his legions.
When colours become old and decrepit, they are never destroyed but are laid up and displayed in the garrison church and a new colour is presented. This may be identical with the old one or a new design may be chosen.
In Ireland, colours are governed by Defence Force Regulations that lays down which formations may have colours and the broad rules as to their design and use. The Naval Service colour was presented to the Naval Service on 12 July 1996 by her Excellency, President Mary Robinson.
Commodores Burgee
The Flag Officers or Commodore's Burgee consists of a green burgee with a centered embroidered yellow five pointed star.
It is flown, day and night, whenever the Flag Officer Commanding the Naval Service is at a naval shore installation or when onboard a Naval Ship.
Senior Officer's Pennant
The Senior Officer's Pennant is flown when two or more Naval Ships are operating together under the command of a Senior Officer. The pennant is flown in addition to the commissioning pennant and is worn at the starboard outer yardarm, day and night. It consists of a green equal sided triangular pennant.
The Commission Pennant
The Irish Naval Commission Pennant, flown by all commissioned ships, consists of a blue and white pennant, tapering to a point, with a yellow harp embroidered in the blue portion.
The Fishery Pennant
The Fishery Pennant is flown by ships of all EU nations when on fishery protection duties.