The flag was introduced in 1953 but is a banner of arms which had been used by the Northern
                       Ireland government since 1925. The arms of Northern Ireland were based on those of Ulster
                       but the yellow field was changed to white, giving a design identical to the St George's Cross -
                       the historical flag of England. The red hand of the O'Neills appears on a six-pointed star,
                       representing the six counties which comprise Northern Ireland, and the crown emphasises the
                       region's status as part of the United Kingdom.

                       Official use of the flag was discontinued when the Stormont parliament was abolished in 1972.