Sarah Slater
A building where the Irish Tricolour was first flown "needs to be preserved for the sake of our history," a councillor has warned.
Although the 1916 Easter Rising made the Tricolour famous, it was first flown publicly in Waterford city in 1848.
On March 7th that year, Thomas Francis Meagher, a leader of the Young Irelanders, flew the flag from the Wolfe Tone Confederate Club at 33 The Mall in Waterford.
In Dublin, on April 15th the same year, Meagher presented this silk flag to the citizens of Ireland, saying: ‘The white in the centre signifies a lasting truce between the orange and the green.’
Meagher was later convicted for leading the Young Irelanders' 1848 Rebellion. On Easter Monday, April 24th 1916, the IRB, Irish Volunteers and Irish Citizen Army flew the Irish Tricolour from the top of the GPO in Dublin.
The famous building had been used as offices over several years and is located opposite Waterford city hall and the Bishop’s Palace. The city hosts the Thomas Francis Meagher 176th Tricolour celebration in early March as a symbol of peace and reconciliation.
Celebrations mark the life and legacy of Meagher, an Irish and American patriot who played a pivotal role in Ireland’s struggle for independence.
Meagher is also revered in the US, where he led Irish troops fighting to preserve the Union in the Civil War.
Aided by Irish rebels in New York, Meagher and other Irish rebels exiled in Australia managed a daring escape and arrived in New York City in 1852 to a hero’s welcome. Meagher studied American law and journalism and soon became editor of an Irish paper, the Irish News.
A statue of Meagher also graces the Montana state capitol in Helena.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris and several Ministers are aware of the need to purchase the building, and Independent south Waterford councillor Donal Barry explained that the "symbolic act of unfurling the Tricolour at this location has had a profound impact" on Irish history and has resonance on an international scale.
Cllr Barry continued: "I firmly believe that the State should possess this historic building on behalf of the Irish nation.
"Despite the hundreds of people gathering outside the building daily to learn about its historical importance, there is no public access nor displays showcasing the rich history associated with this significant event."
He noted that with the annual celebration of the tricolour unfolding in Waterford city, it is "paramount" that the proper "respect and observation of protocol regarding" our national flag, especially in a building of such national significance.
"We must prevent the possibility of the building falling into the hands of Irish or international investors who may restrict access to or the flying of the tricolour.
"I’m urging Taoiseach Martin, on behalf of the Irish people, to swiftly take the necessary steps to acquire 33 The Mall in Waterford or to engage with the current owners to secure a commitment that the State will have the first opportunity to purchase the building if it becomes available for sale,’ Cllr Barry concluded.
