Meet

• 140th Anniversary of the Dublin Municipal Flag – Stan Moore MA FGSI, Non-Executive Director of Genealogical Society of Ireland

The Dublin Municipal flag – described by the Irish Times as green, featuring a central yellow harp and, in one corner, three white castles on a blue field – first flew over City Hall on 22 June 1885. The design combined elements of three existing flags: the Green Harp flag, the Green Ensign, and Dublin’s banner of arms. The banner of arms had served as Dublin’s flag until an incident on 23/24 March, when it was stolen overnight from the Mansion House, most likely by loyalist students from Trinity College. The theft was seen as a response to nationalist Lord Mayor John O’Conner, who declared in a speech that he would take down the flag if the Prince of Wales arrived in Dublin. The new flag represented a shift in civic identity. It is still in use today as the official flag of Dublin City Council and flies proudly throughout the city.

• Rotterdam and Papendrecht: Flag histories and protocols – Edgar Zaagsma, Papendrecht municipal officer and Consul for the War Graves Foundation

This presentation had a dual focus: the city of Rotterdam and the municipality of Papendrecht. Edgar explored the history of the Rotterdam flag, the development of its municipal coat of arms, and the presence (or absence) of Rotterdam’s colours in everyday life. He then turned to Papendrecht, offering a brief overview of its flag and coat of arms, with particular stress on the official flag protocol written for the municipality. Edgar highlighted how and why this local protocol differs from the national approach.

• Raising respect: How the International Center’s Flag Program builds cultural understanding – Peter Kirkwood, Protocol Officer, The International Center

The Flag Program of Indiana’s International Center promotes cultural awareness, civic pride and international understanding through the proper display and care of national, state and organisational flags. Run by the Office of Protocol, and featuring a complete United Nations flag collection and a growing number of flags and banners, the Program serves as a resource for schools, community groups, state and local governments and visiting delegations. Peter explored the Program’s history, outreach and alignment with global protocol standards. Showcasing flags as powerful symbols of respect and identity, he highlighted their enduring role in connecting nations and the communities of Central Indiana.

• State emblems in Greece, 5th–3rd centuries BC – Jorge Hurtado Maqueda, President, Sociedad Española de Vexilología (SEV); presented by José Manuel Erbez, Secretary, SEV

Jorge explored the use of emblematic symbols in Classical and Hellenistic Greece, examining how states expressed authority and identity through visual means during a formative period in ancient history. He reviewed the extant sources and the interpretive challenges they present, considered how state emblems were deployed in land warfare and naval conflict, and concluded with a comparative reflection on Greek and Roman symbolism. Rich in historical insight and analytical depth, this contribution from the SEV offered a fascinating perspective on early state symbolism and the origins of vexillological practice.

• Armenian revolutionary flags: Photography and propaganda – Maxim Saakyan, founder of Uncovering Roots; Leo Torosian, law student and political staffer

Producer Maxim Saakyan worked on this story with Leo Torosian for Uncovering Roots, a podcast that covers untold stories and that has featured in the Guardian and on Spotify. When Leo started researching Armenian revolutionary flags, he found hundreds of photographs. Fighters posing with rifles, daggers and, almost always, flags. Not the kind you’d see flying at the Olympics, but hand-stitched flags covered in swords, slogans, skulls, crosses and dates. These were not just battle flags, they were propaganda. Today, only a dozen or so of these flags survive. The rest exist only in staged photographs, carefully posed and sent across borders to fund raise, recruit and inspire. Together, Max and Leo demonstrated how flags became more than just symbols; they became evidence of a movement fighting for survival, statehood and honour.

• Pride Flags of today: Origin, metamorphosis and current designs – Heather Binnington, retired teacher from the York Region District School Board (Canada)

Where did Pride Flags begin? Where have they been, and what do they look like today? Heather showed how these continually evolving flags adapt attentively to the communities they serve and provided answers to the questions regularly asked about the Standard and Progress Pride Flags.