Dublin flies Catalunya flag in 'support'

With 21 votes in favour and 18 against, approval for the symbolic tribute was far from unanimous.

Whilst People Before Profit says its decision to fly the flag is to 'condemn the repression and violence perpetrated by the Spanish government' during the disputed referendum of October 1 – in the words of PBP councillor Tina MacVeigh – others are not so keen.

The Christian democrat party Fine Gael (FG) and centre-right Fianna Fail (FF) were against the move, which was backed by Sinn Féin mayor Mícheál MacDonncha and the party's national leader, Gerry Adams.

Although Sinn Féin says it supports the 'right to self-determination' in a 'peaceful and democratic manner' of the people of Catalunya, and 'recognises' its former president Carles Puigdemont's unilateral declaration of independence (UDI), Fianna Fail's Deidre Heney says the Irish capital 'should not be taking part in a matter of in-house Spanish politics', and warned that 'the game of flags' has historically created 'lots of pain' in nations round the world.

Prime minister Leo Varadkar of Fine Gael, through Dublin city councillor Paddy McCartan, said hoisting the Catalunya flag could be seen as 'an act of defamation' given that it would be in place during the north-eastern Spanish territory's regional elections on December 21.

Photograph from TheJournal.ie