Flags of 1798

The colour green was characteristic of the rebel flags of ’98.

Green flags bearing yellow or golden representations of the uncrowned harp were carried by the rebels in Wexford, Wicklow and in other counties also.

When the insurgents entered Wexford town on the 30th May 1798, they came with green banners flying.

They later hoisted a green flag above the barracks on the quayside. Because of the shortage of green flags used by rebel corps, it was customary to display banners of all colours except orange which was supposedly disliked by the people.

According to Edward Hay who was in Wexford at the time, many female sympathisers offered coloured petticoats which were used as flags and were usually ‘decorated according to their fancy’.

Many of these women began working on embroidered flags, some of which remained unfinished when the rebellion had been put down.

The last battle in Wexford was fought under a green flag which flew from the ruined windmill on Vinegar Hill overlooking Enniscorthy town on 21st June 1798.

The meaning of the letters MWS is uncertain. Loyalists believed that they meant "Murder Without Sin" i.e. that rebels could murder Protestants with impunity.

Other commentators have suggested that the real meaning is "Marksmen West Shlemalier".