Orkney has one, so does Shetland and now the residents on Barra are to petition the Lyon Court to ensure their island’s flag gains official recognition.
The recognisable green and white Scandinavian-style flag doesn’t yet have legal recognition, despite its widespread use in the local community.
According to the British County Flags website Barra's flag reflect the Viking period of its history:"Details regarding the provenance and significance of this design are sketchy but the island was part of the mediaeval Norse ‘Kingdom of the Isles’.."
The local SNP MSP for the Western Isles, Alasdair Allan, is working with the community to try to win official approval.
This follows a meeting on the issue in Barra where the idea gained public support from many islanders.
The Court of the Lord Lyon, the legal authority on heraldry in Scotland, has the power to authorise community flags and ensure that only one community can use any one design
Fellow SNP MSP Gail Ross successfully led a similar campaign in Caithness whilst she was a Highland councillor.
Mr Allan said:
“It is great to see the local community in Barra showing interest in this idea. Ultimately, it’s up to the people of Barra themselves what they want to do next. The feeling at the initial meeting that I hosted earlier this month was that recognition of the flag would help boost the island’s marketing efforts as well as celebrate its unique identity.
“There is already widespread use of Barra’s flag, which can already be seen flying from fishing boats, on local produce and on car stickers. I look forward to seeing how people in Barra want to take this forward, and hope it will lead to a formal petition being made to the Lord Lyon. I believe Barra’s flag can help boost the area’s identity and economy.”
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