A Sinn Fein councillor has joined the every-increasing ranks of those who have mistaken the Ivory Coast's flag for the Irish Tricolour.

Mid & East Antrim Borough Council's Bannside representative Patrice Hardy sent two tweets with the Ivory Coast flag instead of the Irish flag.

In one, posted at noon on Sunday, the teacher says: "The best day of the year has arrived! Enjoy the celebrations everyone! Up the Rebels!!!!!!!!!! #JoinTheRising".

She ends her tweet with 13 flags - all of the Ivory Coast instead of the Irish Tricolour.

The tweet has been removed from the politician's account, which has over 2,300 followers.

A "best weekend ever!" tweet was later sent out in the early hours of Monday morning, this time with 41 Irish Tricolours.

In another - this time with hailing the placing of an Easter Rising monument in Carnlough - she said: "Times they are a-changin".

Again with the Ivory Coast flag.

Sent at 4.15pm on Saturday, it remained on the account on Monday afternoon. It was retweeted five times and 'liked' 18 times.

When users pointed out that she was using the wrong flag, she blocked them.

The Belfast Telegraph has attempted to contact Ms Hardy, however, she is yet to respond.

Earlier this month, footballer and England captain Wayne Rooney, used his Instagram account to wish his followers a happy St Patrick's Day - ending the post with the Ivory Coast flag.

And in 2012 victims' campaigner Willie Frazer mistook the Italian flag, flown over a primary school, for that of the Irish Republic's.

Belfast Telegraph