Free Republic

Grade A student Courtney Wright, 12, wore a Union Flag dress and wrote a piece about history and traditions as part of the celebrations at the school on Friday. But her dad, Stuart, collected his daughter after she was told to stay in the school’s reception. Stuart said: “Courtney was so embarrassed and couldn’t understand what she’d done wrong. "She was told she wasn’t allowed in school with the dress on because she gets to celebrate her culture every day.” In a permission letter sent to parents, it said the day was "designed to promote inclusion, understanding, and appreciation of...

Gardaí arrested one person after scuffles broke out between protesters and the Public Order Unit outside Dublin’s Glasnevin Cemetery. Efforts were made to burn a Union Jack and bangers were exploded, one of which was thrown at lines of gardaí and led to the brief altercation. […] A group of about 100 people, mostly men, gathered to protest at the unveiling ceremony in the cemetery of a “Remembrance Wall” listing the names of all those who died in the 1916 Easter Rising, including British soldiers. Many of those present carried banners and placards bearing the logo of the 32 County...

Dozens of police stations lowered the Union Flag and replaced it with a gay rights banner to mark a day of action against homophobia. One police chief said the rainbow flag demonstrated his force's support for homosexuals who felt they were victims of prejudice. But critics warned that it was dangerous for forces to show support for particular campaigns. Earlier this year, Britain's most senior policeman ordered his force not to fly any flags in support of individual groups. Sir Paul Stephenson, commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, instructed officers to remove a rainbow flag which had replaced a Union Flag...

Health and safety killjoys tell war veterans they are too old to hoist the Union Flag over town hall Last updated at 02:38am on 26.07.08      Up in arms: Veterans John Ireland (right) and Keith Hutchins in front of the town hall In their younger days, they risked death and injury to fight for their country against the Nazis and other enemies.  But, now, war veterans who want to fly the Union Flag proudly above their town hall are being defeated by a barrage of health and safety rules.  Royal British Legion members had scented victory after fighting...