The flag of Ireland, also known as the Irish Tricolor, features three vertical bands of green, white, and orange. The green represents the Irish Catholic and nationalist community, while the orange represents the Protestant and unionist community. The white in the center symbolizes peace and unity between these two groups. The flag was first introduced in 1848 but became widely recognized during the Irish independence movement. It was officially adopted as the national flag upon the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922, symbolizing hope for reconciliation between the island's communities.