The Irish Flag on Coffins: A Tradition More Common Abroad Than in Ireland

Not an Indigenous Irish Custom

Placing the Irish tricolour (green, white, orange) on a coffin is not a traditional practice in Ireland itself. It is primarily observed in:

• United States – Irish-American funerals, police/firefighter honors, military veterans of Irish descent.
• Canada – Similar diaspora contexts.
• UK military funerals – For soldiers of Irish regiments (e.g., Royal Irish Regiment).

Irish Funeral Customs

In Ireland, traditional elements include:

• Wake (removal, viewing at home or funeral home)
• Removal to church (often with shoulder-borne coffin)
• Requiem Mass / service
• Burial with clergy-led prayers; sometimes a piper plays Going Home or Danny Boy.
• Flag-draped coffins are reserved for state funerals (presidents, Taoisigh) or military casualties—using the national flag, not specifically the tricolour as an ethnic symbol.

Why the Diaspora Adopted It

For emigrants, the flag became a potent symbol of identity, pride, and connection to the homeland. Draping it on a coffin honors that heritage in a foreign land—a ritual of belonging, not an imported Irish tradition.