Granville Hotel
The Origin of the Irish Flag
Did you know?
1
The first tricolour had a different design
The original design had the orange segment next to the staff and the red hand of Ulster over the white centre.
Thomas Francis Meagher was sent to Australia after the Rebellion of 1848!
2
He accepted a 'ticket-of-leave', promising to notify authorities if he attempted to escape Australia. He was separated from his Irish Republican associates and the cottage he lived in still stands in Ross, Tasmania!
3
Costa Rica could have been a location for Irish immigration
Before the American Civil War started, Thomas travelled to Costa Rica to see if the country was suitable for Irish immigration. The outbreak of the American Civil War interrupted this consideration.
Granville Hotel
Timeline
1823
Thomas Francis Meagher was born in Waterford, his father was a merchant and two time mayor of Waterford.
1847
Thomas formed the Irish Confederation with John Mitchel, William Smith O’Brien and Thomas Devin Reilly.
1848
Meagher returned from France with an early version of the Irish tricolour. The flag was flown for the first time at No 33 The Mall, Waterford in March 1848. In August, the Young Irelander Rebellion occurred, which Thomas took part in and was put down. In 1849, he was sent to Van Diemen's Land (Australia) as punishment.
1852
Meagher escaped to America. Shortly after, the American Civil War broke out in 1861 and Meagher fought for the Union.
1865
After the war Thomas was appointed Governor of Montana. In 1867, he disappeared after falling overboard a ship on the Missouri River; he was never seen again.
Previous Stop
Next Stop
Powered by
