Madam, - James McGeever asks (June 10th) for "an authoritative explanation of the (Tricolour's) symbolism". This is to be found in the booklet An Bhratach Náisiúnta published by the Stationery Office.
I quote from the opening paragraph: "The Irish tricolour is essentially a flag of union . . .it is emblematic of the fusion of the older elements, represented by the green, with the newer elements, represented by the orange. The combination of both colours. . . with the white between in token of brotherhood, symbolises the union of the different stocks in a common nationality".
"Brotherhood" may not necessarily imply perpetual harmony, but I think Seán Redmond (also June 10th) is mistaken in saying that the white represented revolution rather than peace, especially when he quoted Mitchel's report that Meagher said it signified "a lasting truce".
Mitchel's reference to an avenging Red Hand appearing on the white centre was the flight of an imagination driven towards desperate violence by the horrors of the famine. In the event, the Red Hand never made it into the national flag. - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL DRURY, Avenue Louise, Brussels, Belgium.