A talk the Rev Brian Kennaway gave at Queens University Belfast on the 12th of May 2015.

1. “The Historical (and Social)
Impact of
Flags and Symbols on
Society”
Institute of Irish Studies,
Queen’s University Belfast

2. “The Historical Impact of
Flags and Symbols on Society”
3. Flags/symbols identifying a Christian
community
- Early Christian Symbols
- Later Christian symbols
2. Flags/symbols identifying a
family/clan – Old Testament
1. Symbols as an early means of
communication - early writing

3. Jiahu symbols -
Northern China,
with radiocarbon
dates from the 7th
millennium BC
Symbols as an early means of
communication - early writing

4. Numbers 2:1,2 & 34
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: “The
Israelites are to camp around the Tent of
Meeting some distance from it, each man
under his standard with the banners of his
family. . . So the Israelites did everything
the LORD commanded Moses; that is the
way they encamped under their standards,
and that is the way they set out, each with
his clan and family.”
Flags/symbols as identifying a
family/clan – Old Testament

5. ‫גל‬ַ‫ד‬ָּ
Whatever these banners or standards
looked like they identified the clans/families
of the people of Israel. Banners/standards
were used as clan or family markers.

6. Early Christian Symbols
Flags/symbols as identifying a
Christian community

7. Huguenot Cross
Flags/symbols identifying a Reformed
Christian community

8. The Covenanter’s Banner (Blue Banner)
Flags/symbols identifying a Reformed
Christian community

9. Flags/symbols identifying a Reformed
Christian community

10. Flags / Banners / Symbols both
communicate a message and identify a
group
They also have the tendency to be ,
EVOCATIVE as well as PROVOCATIVE.
They EVOKE feelings of
sympathy/warmth/affection/affiliation in and
among one group of people as they
PROVOKE feelings of
anxiety/hatred/opposition among another
group of people.

11. Flags & Symbols in the Irish /
Nationalist Tradition

13. Flags & Symbols in the British /
Unionist Tradition

15. Orange Colour Flag as a Symbol

16. Notable Orange Symbols - Banners

17. Banners - They Mark Events

18. Banners - They Mark Events

19. Banners - They Mark Events

20. Banners - They Mark Events

21. Thomas
Morrison
perished on the
Titanic
15th
April 1912
Banners - They Mark Events

22. Banners - Sociological History

23. Banners - Sociological History

24. Banners Reflect Trades
Baker’s LOL 245
United Artizan’s Temp. Star LOL 386
Belfast Docker’s Temperance LOL 1117
Press LOL 1211
Shipwright’s LOL 1593
Power Station LOL 1870
Belfast Harbour LOL 1883
Artizan’s LOL 1904

25. Banners - Church connections

26. Banners - Church connections

27. Now ‘Cultúrlann
McAdam Ó Fiaich’ -
named in honour of
Robert McAdam a
Presbyterian pioneer of
the revival of Irish
language in 19th century
Belfast, and Cardinal
Tomás Ó Fiaich, an
Irish language
enthusiast.
Banners - Church connections

28. Flags / symbols of the early twentieth
century

29. Flags/Symbols of the early twentieth century
Lapel & and Cap Badge of the U. V. F.
LAPEL BADGE CAP BADGE

30. Original U.V.F. (1913) – King’s Colours
Flags/Symbols of the early twentieth century

31. Original U.V.F. (1913) – King’s Colours
Flags/Symbols of early twentieth century

32. Original U.V.F. (1913) – King’s Colours
Flags/Symbols of the early twentieth century

33. Original U.V.F. (1913) – Regimental Colours
Flags/Symbols of the early twentieth century

34. Original U.V.F. (1913) – Regimental Colours
Flags/Symbols of the early twentieth century

35. Flags/Symbols of the early twentieth century
Original U.V.F. (1913) – Regimental Colours

36. Flag of the Government of Northern Ireland
The Ulster Banner

37. Flag of the Province of Ulster

38. Flag of the Province
of Ulster
Significant differences
Flag of the
Northern
Ireland
Parliament

39. Flags/symbols of the conflict

40. Flags/Symbols Of The Conflict

41. Flags/Symbols Of The Conflict

42. “The People’s Paper”
“Loyalist community
magazine”
“The Magazine of the
Ulster Volunteer
Force”

43. Flags/Symbols Of The Conflict
U.V.F. Centenary Parade 20 April 2013

44. Flags/Symbols Of The Conflict
U.V.F. Centenary Parade 20 April 2013

45. Flags/Symbols Of The Conflict
Centenary Parade 9 May2015

46. Flags/Symbols Of The Conflict
Centenary Parade 9 May2015

47. Flags/Symbols Of The Conflict
Centenary Parade 9 May2015

48. Flags/Symbols Of The Conflict

49. Flags/Symbols Of The Conflict

50. Flags/Symbols Of The Conflict

51. Flags/Symbols Of The Conflict

52. Flags/Symbols Of The Conflict
A modern ‘Tribute Flag’

53. Flags/Symbols Of The Conflict

54. Flags/Symbols Of The Conflict
Ulster Independence Movement

55. Flags/Symbols Of The Conflict
Drumcree

56. Flags/Symbols Of The Conflict
Ulster Scots

57. Flags/Symbols Of The Conflict

58. Flags/Symbols Of The Conflict

59. Flags/Symbols Of The Conflict
Compare and contrast
“U.V.F.” Flag
without 1912
Central Antrim
Regiment
2nd
(Larne)
Battalion U.V.F

60. Flags/Symbols Of The Conflict
Compare and contrast
“U.V.F.” Flag with 1912
& Cap Badge Logo
Central Antrim
Regiment
2nd
(Larne)
Battalion U.V.F

61. Flags/Symbols Of The Conflict
Compare and contrast
“U.V.F. Battle
Honours Flag”
Central Antrim
Regiment
2nd
(Larne) Battalion
U.V.F

62. WHAT CONSTITUTES AN AUTHENTIC
REPLICA OF THE ULSTER VOLUNTEER
FORCE COLOURS 1913-1914
(King’s Colours or Regimental Colours)?
They must meet all of the following three criteria:
1. They must have the Union Flag in the
upper canton.
2. They must NOT have the ‘For God and
Ulster’ Badge Logo.
3. They must NOT have Battle Honours.