ABSTRACT
There is no lack of awareness over the role of symbols in politics in Northern Ireland either amongst the public and politicians who are regularly engaged and enraged by issues relating to the use of symbols or amongst academics working in the area (Bryan, 2000, Bryan and Gillespie, 2005, Brown and MacGinty, 2003, Bryson and McCartney, 1994, Buckley, 1985, Feldman, 1991, Harrison, 1995, Jarman, 1993, 1997, Loftus 1990, 1994, MacGinty and Darby, 2002, McCormick and Jarman, 2005, Nic Craith, 2002, Rolston, 1991, 1992, 1995, 2003, Santino, 2001). Flags and emblems, as well as memorials and parades, are the language through which identity politics is expressed. The 1998 Multi-Party Agreement, aside from the fact that its name also seems symbolically disputed (Good Friday or Belfast Agreement), contains references to the use of symbols (quoted above) within the framework of the section on ‘Rights, Safeguards and Equality of Opportunity: Economic, Social and Cultural Issues’ (pp. 19-20).
