List of flags used in Northern Ireland


This is a list of flags used in Northern Ireland.

Official flags

Current

These are the flags used by the British Government, the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Monarch in Northern Ireland.
FlagDateUseDescription
Since 1801The Union Flag, popularly known as the Union Jack, is used as the flag of the United Kingdom.A superposition of the flags of England, Scotland, and the St Patrick's Flag of Ireland.
Since 1837The Royal Standard of the United Kingdom. It is the banner of King Charles III in his capacity as King of the United Kingdom.Split into quadrants, the first and fourth quadrants contain three gold lions passant on a red field ; the second quadrant contains a red lion rampant on a gold field ; the third quadrant contains a gold harp on a blue field.
Since 1998The banner of the Ireland Assembly.Six flax flowers on a white field.

University flags

FlagDateUseDescription
1910–presentFlag of Queen's University Belfast is a heraldic banner that is based on its coat of arms which were granted on 24 March 1910, two years after the establishment of the university. The arms are similar to those used by the Queen's University of Ireland which existed from 1850 to 1879.The banner is a Saint Patrick's Saltire that features a book, a sea horse, the Red Hand of Ulster, a harp and a British crown. The book stands for the university, the sea horse represents Belfast, the Red Hand is for Ulster, the harp symbolises Ireland and the crown is for the British monarchy. The university's arms are blazoned as: "Per saltire azure and argent, on a saltire gules, between in chief an open book and in base a harp both proper, in dexter a hand couped of the third, and in sinister a sea-horse vert gorged with a mural crown of the fourth, an Imperial crown of the last".

Maritime flags

FlagDateUseDescription
House flag of the Belfast, Mersey and Manchester Steamship CompanyA red flag defaced with the initials "BMM" in black on a white lozenge.
House flag of the Belfast Steamship CompanyA red pennant defaced with a white disc.
House flag of the Clanrye Steamship CompanyA red flag defaced with a white letter "C".
Ensign of the Commissioners of Irish LightsThe blue ensign defaced with the commissioners' badge in the fly. Flown by CIL vessels in Northern Ireland.
1994"Erne Flag" used on the Shannon–Erne Waterway.Triband of green, white and blue.
House flag of the Larne and Stranraer Steamboat CompanyA red pennant defaced with a Red Hand of Ulster on a white lozenge.
House flag of the Londonderry SteamersA flag divided into vertical triangles of blue and yellow.
House flag of the Lord Line A blue flag defaced with a white shamrock lying on its side, the top facing towards the fly.
Ensign of the Royal North of Ireland Yacht ClubThe blue ensign defaced in the fly with a yellow shamrock beneath a Saint Edward's Crown.
Ensign of the Royal Ulster Yacht ClubThe blue ensign defaced with the Red Hand of Ulster and St Edward's Crown.
House flag of the Shamrock Shipping CompanyA blue pennant divided by a red cross, with a white letter "S" entwined around the centre of the cross.
House flag of the Ulster Steamship CompanyA blue flag defaced in the centre with a white shield bearing a Red Hand of Ulster above three drops of blood, and the company's initials in the hoist.

Sporting flags

FlagDateUseDescription
Flag of the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games CouncilThe NICGC logo on a white field.
Flag used by the Ireland national cricket team.A green flag with three green shamrocks on a white and green cricket ball.
Flag used by the Ireland national hockey team.Arms of the four provinces combined on a shield, with two stags on the crest and the motto "IRELAND", on a green field.
Flag used by the Ireland national rugby union team.The four provincial arms and the IRFU insignia in the centre, on a light green field. NOTE: At Rugby World Cups the team is represented by the Flag of Ireland and the Flag of Ulster.
1934Flag used to represent Northern Ireland at the 1934 British Empire Games

GAA colours

GAA county colours are used to represent Irish counties in the Gaelic Athletic Association's inter-county competitions, most notably the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in Gaelic football and the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship in Hurling.
FlagUseDescription
UlsterGold and black
County AntrimSaffron and white
County ArmaghOrange and white
County DerryWhite and red
County DownRed and black
County FermanaghGreen and white
County TyroneWhite and red