Ulster Banner

The Ulster Banner (Irish: "Meirge Uladh"), also known as the Flag of Northern Ireland, is a heraldic banner taken from the former Coat of Arms of Northern Ireland, consisting of a red cross on a white field, upon which is a crowned six-pointed star with a red hand in the center. It was the flag of the former Government of Northern Ireland and common flag of Northern Ireland from 1953 until that government was abolished in 1972.
Origin.
The arms and flag were designed in Dublin Castle by Major Sir Nevile Wilkinson, Ulster King of Arms, in 1923–1924. The flag is based on the flag of the traditional province of Ulster, including a Red Hand of Ulster in the centre, and the red de Burgh cross (though some claim this is the Saint George's Cross). It has the addition of a crown to represent the monarchy of the United Kingdom. Rather than a shield, the Red Hand is inside a six pointed star, representing the six counties that make up Northern Ireland. It is blazoned: "Argent a cross gules, overall on a six pointed star of the field ensigned by an Imperial crown proper a Dexter hand coupled at the wrist of the second".
The flag is also sometimes called the Ulster flag, Northern Ireland flag, the (old) Stormont flag, or the Red Hand of Ulster flag. Loyalists often use 'Ulster' as another name for Northern Ireland, despite the fact that 3 of the 9 counties which make up Ulster are in the Republic of Ireland, and Stormont was the seat of the former Government of Northern Ireland.
History.
Use by the Government of Northern Ireland.
In 1924, the Government of Northern Ireland was granted its own coat of arms by Royal Warrant and had the right to display these arms on a flag or banner. This right was exercised for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. From 1953 until 1972, the flag was used officially by the Government of Northern Ireland and also as a "de facto" civic flag for Northern Ireland. In 1972, the Government and Parliament of Northern Ireland were abolished by the Parliament of the United Kingdom under the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973.
Later use.
Since the Government of Northern Ireland was abolished in 1972, the flag (and variations thereof) has continued to be used by unionists. In 2004, Belfast City Council commissioned a study on the flying of flags which noted that the Ulster Banner continued to be flown, alongside the Union flag, by three unionist-controlled local authorities in Northern Ireland: Ards Borough Council, Carrickfergus Borough Council and Castlereagh Borough Council.
International sport.
The Ulster Banner is used to represent Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games, players on the PGA Tour, and by FIFA to represent the Northern Ireland national football team.
At recent Rugby World Cups the Irish Rugby team, which represents the entire island of Ireland, has played under two flags – the Irish national flag and the Flag of Ulster, the official flag of the IRFU Ulster Branch – rather than a flag representing Northern Ireland.