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Historic 1916 Easter Rising flag is unveiled in New York

Tricolor finds home at American Irish Historical Society

MOLLY MULDOON,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Thursday, June 9, 2011, 7:21 AM

Updated Thursday, June 16, 2011, 2:30 PM

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Dr. Kevin M. Cahill and Ian Whyte shake hands as the flag is officially handed over to the society on long-term loan

Photo by Aislinn Gavin

One of the two original tricolor flags which was flown from the GPO during the 1916 rising, has been unveiled at the American Irish Historical Society.

The highly symbolic relic of Irish independence has been given on long-term loan to the organization.

The hand stitched green, white and gold flag is made of Irish linen and measures 74 x 159cm.

Today the flag, almost one hundred years old, is insured for $1 million. The flag failed to sell in March of last year, when it was put up for auction in New York. It had been expected to fetch up to $700,000, however did not make the reserve price of $500,000.

In the days following the Easter Rising the flag was taken by a British soldier after the surrender and was later given to a doctor in Lisburn County Antrim, in turn his son-in-law donated the iconic flag to John Sweetman, one of the founding members of Sinn Fein. It has since remained in the ownership of the the Sweetman family.
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Read More:
1916 Easter Rising flag fails to sell at New York auction

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On Wednesday, Ian Whyte the director of Whyte’s, Ireland’s leading art and collectibles auction house, representing the Sweetman family, formally handed over the flag to Christopher Cahill, Executive Director of the American Irish Historical Society.

“The family are delighted to have this important icon of Irish history displayed in the AIHS in New York,” Whyte said, speaking on behalf of the Sweetman estate.

“It is fitting that this tricolor is now in the USA, home to over forty million people of Irish descent.” Whyte added.

The other flag which flew over the GPO is housed in the National Museum of Ireland.

The AIHS is hopeful the flag will become a focal point for the American commemoration of the Centenary of the Rising in 2016.

Dr Kevin Cahill of the AIHS, told IrishCentral the society was delighted to showcase such a symbolic piece of Irish history.

Also in attendance for the unveiling was Noel Kilkenny, the Irish Consul General of New York.

Nster.com

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13 Comments

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plasticpaddy | Jun 10, 2011, 05:58 PM EDT

Long term loan, it should never have left ireland - ridiculous!

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TiocfaidhArmani | Jun 10, 2011, 05:40 AM EDT

America is welcome to a loan of the flag, when you consider how much the exiled children of Ireland did there for our cause.

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Towngate | Jun 09, 2011, 08:04 PM EDT

I am sorry to read that the Orange colour representing the Protestant Unionists has faded to 'Gold'!

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badolan | Jun 09, 2011, 07:26 PM EDT

As an American, I'm glad that the flag is on loan here. However, I think that it should be a permanent possession of Ireland and kept there.

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jacirishiam | Jun 09, 2011, 07:23 PM EDT

interesting, we've traced our Irish roots back to the early, mid 17th century to our Great,Great, Great,Great grandfather, Richard Currier who helped found Amesbury, Massachutesetts who'll be celebrating 400 years as a community in 2042, Hmmm, be nice to live that long and be there for the celebration :)

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asheridan | Jun 09, 2011, 01:17 PM EDT

@jamcelt There are plenty of people in the states who's parents/grandparents/great-grand parents died for or fought for that flag! Not every person who is considered Irish-American has roots going back to the 18th century... some people just went over recently. Why not loan it to them for a while?

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Searlit | Jun 09, 2011, 11:27 AM EDT

It's on loan, like a piece of artwork. You'll get it back. Chill out!

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Springfield9 | Jun 09, 2011, 11:11 AM EDT

It's a very sad affair that the Republic doesn't have BOTH flags. You could compare it to the "Star Spangled Banner" of Fort Mc Henry in the U.S. The flag is gargantuan and intended to tell the Brits to leave. It has been meticulously restored.

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Springfield9 | Jun 09, 2011, 11:07 AM EDT

You would think that SF would have puchased it - there's no $$$ shortage there.

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gregoryny | Jun 09, 2011, 10:59 AM EDT

right you are @kerryman. the flag will be appreciated here. and it's also a lot better than if it had been sold to one of those aforementioned bankers.

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kerryman201 | Jun 09, 2011, 10:23 AM EDT

if you notice this is one of the TWO flags that flew above the GPO and as Muldoon points out "The other flag which flew over the GPO is housed in the National Museum of Ireland." Why not bring it to the U.S. for a stint, it is not as if it will go unnoticed or unappreciated.

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Jamcelt | Jun 09, 2011, 10:09 AM EDT

I agree. It has no business being in the US. Irish people literally died for flying it.

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antoman | Jun 09, 2011, 08:17 AM EDT

That flag should be here in Ireland.Our politicians if they had an ounce of pride in them.Should have had a whip around and bought it.Well I guess its safe there.No point flying it here in Ireland.It would offend the foreign bankers who now own this Island.

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