David, you are being extremely naive if you think that flags are not an inflammatory issue in Northern Ireland.
Personally, if I'm walking through an area and see Union Flags flying from lampposts I automatically feel completely intimidated. Similarly I know many unionists who feel similarly intimidated when they walk through an area with Tricolours flying.
Down South or in Britain I have no problem with people flying whatever national flag they want, but it would be foolish to assume that the situation is the same in NI. The Union Flag conjures images of Loyalist terror and the years of oppression people suffered during the 20th Century in NI, and I'm sure the Tricolour invokes images of the IRA to many unionists.
You don't need a national flag to support your local football team, so why bring it? By all means take it to GB and NI sporting events, where your national team are playing.
Bookmarks