Past, present and future are embodied in new Unity flag
By Maurice Garvey
THE mythological association of hunter-warrior Fionn MacCumhaill and his son Oisín has been incorporated into the new Unity Flag of Tallaght.
The flag was created and designed over a ten-year period by Springfield resident Seos Ó Colla.
It has been adopted by the Tallaght Historical Society, with some slight modifications, and is intended to be a symbol of identity for the Dublin 24 area and its people.
The three blue eight-pointed stars represent Tallaght’s past, present, and future, according to Tallaght Historical Society Chairperson Anne Hanrahan.
Ms Hanrahan said: “The green strip represents the Tallaght mountains and the parks and fields. The red deer represents the Deer Park that once was here and owned by the families of Old Bawn House in the 17th century, and the land stretched from Kiltipper all the way to Watergate.
“The deer were brought from Lapland and were here for just over a year when they died, as the weather was too warm for them.”
Ms Hanrahan said the mythological association of the deer is associated with Fionn MacCumhaill and his son Oisín, which “means young deer or fawn.”
Mr Ó Colla previously told The Echo that he collaborated with a number of residents and community groups to create the flag, including Tallaght Youth Theatre, Tallaght Community Arts, Tallaght Historical Society and Tallaght Community Council.
From talking to local groups, he learned that most people associated the colours red, green, white and blue with Tallaght, in that order.
