Celebrating the 178th Year of our National Flag
On the 7th of March 1848, Thomas Francis Meagher flew a Tricolour flag at the Wolf Tone Club 33 The Mall, Waterford City, where it flew continuously for eight days and nights before being removed by the authorities.
The Tricolour was presented as a gift in 1848 to Thomas Francis Meagher from a small group of French women sympathetic to the Irish cause was intended to symbolise the inclusion and hoped-for union between Roman Catholics (symbolised by the green colour) and Protestants (symbolised by the orange colour).
The Thomas Francis Meagher 178th Anniversary Tricolour Celebration is a historic event taking place in the city of Waterford, Ireland from March 6th to March 8th, 2026. This commemoration marks the life and legacy of Thomas Francis Meagher, an Irish American Patriot who played a pivotal role in Ireland’s struggle for independence.
2026 Program
6:00pm
Granville Hotel
Thomas Francis Meagher Fife and Drum Band
Commence the commemorative weekend with a performance by the Thomas Francis Meagher Fife and Drum Band. Join us at the Granville Hotel as we gather for our opening events.
6:15pm
Departs Granville Hotel
Thomas Francis Meagher Walking Tour
Visit sites associated with the life and career of Thomas Francis Meagher in Waterford. The tour begins at his birthplace at the Granville Hotel and follows a curated historic route through the city streets.
7:00pm
Museum of Treasures, Garden Room
Guest Lecture by Derek Barry
Join renowned Australian historian and Thomas Francis Meagher expert Derek Barry at the Museum of Treasures Garden Room. Gain a deeper understanding of the enduring legacy and the profound global connections of Thomas Francis Meagher.
7:45pm
Sabai Restaurant, The Mall
Evening Dinner at Sabai Restaurant
A specially curated two-course meal within the historic walls of the former home of Thomas Francis Meagher — the site where Meagher was arrested in July 1848. €34.50 per person. Spaces are limited: please book directly with Sabai Restaurant on 087 294 9929, mentioning the Thomas Francis Meagher Celebration.
The 177th Tricolour Anniversary Celebration
Reflecting on a Weekend of Heritage and Unity
Waterford has proudly concluded its heartfelt 177th Tricolour Anniversary Celebration, marking a weekend rich with history, culture, and community spirit. From the immersive Thomas Francis Meagher Walking Tour to the harmonious melodies at the gala dinner, and the inspiring Military Parade, the city exuded the values Thomas Francis Meagher envisioned for Ireland. To relive these memorable moments and experience the celebration through vivid imagery, we invite you to view our gallery of the event’s highlights.
View Gallery
I trust that the old country will not refuse this symbol of a new life from one of her youngest children. I need not explain its meaning. The quick and passionate intellect of the generation now springing into arms will catch it at a glance. The white in the centre signifies a lasting truce between the “orange” and the “green” and I trust that beneath its folds, the hands of the Irish Protestant and the Irish Catholic may be clasped in generous and heroic brotherhood.
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