A number of residents in Ardglass have complained to Down News about what they have described as insensitivity to one part of the community.
An Irish flag painted on the wall of the Presbyterian Church in Ardglass has caused upset in the village.[/caption]
An Irish tricolour flag has been painted on the wall on the side of the graveyard of the Presbyterian Church in a prominent position overlooking the car park area.
To date the village has had no community relations problems or issues with flags and this has come as a bolt from the blue. Ardglass SDLP Councillor Dermot Curran said: “I am very annoyed at this flag being painted on the church graveyard wall. I am all for respecting whatever flags that people feel loyal to, however, this is a matter of principle. It is just degrading to put this up on a graveyard wall and shows little respect to anyone.
“I have raised this matter with officers of Down District Council and they are looking into it. It is a party wall shared with the church.
“I also spoke to the Elders of the Church about it and this clearly does little for Ardglass which has always enjoyed positive community relations. It is simply disrespectful and has little if anything to do with politics.”
Sinn Féin Downpatrick area Councillor Eamonn Mac Con Midhe also said: “This is not acceptable to paint a flag on a church or graveyard wall. Whoever did this needs to think about the consequences of what they are doing. Ardglass is a community which has never seen any problems like this and I would ask whoever did it to desist. It is not contributing anything to the community or politics.”
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