Irish Starry Plough Flag

In 1913 the Dublin Constabulary used excessive force against a group of striking workers killing two of them. Arising form this event, trade union leaders formed a paramilitary organisation known as the Irish Citizen Army with the intention of providing protection for labour demontrations. The group soon evolved into into an uniformed armed force. It adopted the starry plough as its symbol in 1914.

The Starry Plough flag adopted the colours of the Irish Citizens' Army with the shade of bluish green coming directly from the organization's uniform. The constellation Ursa Major, known in Ireland as The Plough (and in North America as the Big Dipper) was chosen as the flag's symbol since it was one of the most prominent features of the Irish night sky. James Connolly, who designed the flag chose it since "a free Ireland would control its own destiny from the plough to the stars."

The Starry Plough flag was present In 1916 during the Easter Rebellion. The original flag was captured by His Majesty's British forces. It was returned to Dublin in 1966 on the fiftieth anniversary of the rebellion and is safely displayed in the National Museum of ireland.

In 1934 the ITGWU, Eire's largest trade union, simplified the design of the starry plough with a sky-blue field. It soon became known as the flag of the Irish trade union movement and it's political wing, the Labour Party. Trade unions continue to rally under the flag to this day, while the Labour Party has changed its flag. In the 1970's they changed the field to red, later retiring the design all together. The Socialist International Red Rose and Fist flag is now labour's symbol. The Starry Plough remains dear to republican paramilitary and socialist groups in Ireland who can be seen flying it proudly