Criticism of flag flying in County Kildare town

The appearance of a flag depicting the emblems of the four provinces has been criticised.

Labour councillor Rupert Heather said Kildare County Council should follow the example of other local authorities and remove all unauthorised flags on poles around the county.

He said the four provinces flag is believed by some to be associated with groups opposed to asylum seekers.

He said one is flying outside the parish church in Naas.

The flag is on a wooden street light pole at Sallins Road - a public place outside the church grounds - and has nothing to to with the church or the church authorities.

A similar flag flies from a public lighting standard near Johnstown on the main route to Dublin.

The councillor told a meeting that the flags are divisive and “I’d like to see them gone.”

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Independent councillor Pádraig McEvoy said the message around the flying of the flag is not clear but it appears to be linked to a form of protest which is not welcome.

KCC official Alan Dunney said the flying of the flags would be investigated but he stopped short of a guarantee that any would be removed.

He added that if flags are attached to council property or premises without authorisation they will be removed. “Where flags are displayed on private property, exemptions may apply under the provisions of the Planning Acts,” he added.

He also said each case would need to be examined, as an exemption may or may not apply.

KCC’s policy relating to the flying of flags relates to all council owned buildings.