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The green, white and orange flag will be banned from the parade in Strabane, Northern Ireland, this year. The flag is a regular sight at St Patrick’s Day events on both sides of the Irish border and across the globe. The white of the flag represents peace between the island’s two largest political and religious communities - broadly, the Catholic, nationalist majority and the Protestant, unionist minority. But the Irish flag, along with flags relating to Northern Ireland and Britain, will be banned from the show in Strabane this year. It has sparked fury among those who believe Ireland's flag should be present at an event celebrating Ireland's national day.

GETTY The Irish flag has been banned from an event marking Ireland's national holiday

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Derry City and Strabane District Council said the ban was an effort to create cross-community appeal for the parade, which is being run by the council for the first time. However a unionist councillor has already poured cold water on the sentiment, claiming the event was still not “inclusive” because it also coincides with the area’s Irish language festival. Ulster Unionist councillor Derek Hussey told the Belfast Telegraph it was “counter-intuitive” to ban the tricolour while also celebrating the Irish language - the funding of which is a contentious issue in Northern Ireland.

He said: “There is no attempt from the republican community to work on inclusively. At the end of the day the council is trying to make it a celebration which is inclusive. “But it certainly hasn't changed in a way that would make me go with the wife and wains [children].” Mr Hussey, who admitted he has never attended a St Patrick’s Day parade, said it was “frustrating” the flag of St Patrick will also be banned, claiming it has “symbolism and heritage that relates to us all”.

GETTY The Irish flag is synonymous at St Patrick's Day events across the globe

The St Patrick’s Saltire, a red cross on a white background, is often used in an attempt to promote Northern Irish culture regardless of community. However its use is also contentious as it is often used in place of the Irish tricolour, something seen as a purposefully political act. In the past its use has sparked outrage in UK cities, with Bradford and Croydon both receiving complaints for flying it in place of the tricolour at their St Patrick’s Day parades in 2009. They reverted to the green, white and gold for following years.

GETTY Flags are a particularly divisive issue in Northern Ireland, highlighted by the 2012 Belfast riots