17 SEP 2025

The County Colours and Flags of Ireland: Full List with Visuals

By Max Panych

Introduction

Each Irish county has its own official colours and flag, most commonly seen in GAA matches and local events. From Cork’s red and white to Donegal’s green and gold, these combinations reflect heritage and pride. This guide explores every county’s colours and flags in Ireland—where they come from, and what they represent. Keep reading for the full list.

Connacht Counties

Galway colours

Maroon and white

The maroon and white colors of the Galway team are inspired by the official crest of the county, featuring a ship on a white and maroon shield.

Leitrim colours

Green and gold

Often called "The County of the Yellow and Green," these colors represent the lush greenery of its landscape and the golden gorse that grows throughout the area.

Mayo colours

Green and red

The green signifies the fields and hills of Mayo, while the red represents the blood spilt during the rebellion of 1798.

Roscommon colours

Blue and Yellow

These colors are a nod to the O'Conor clan, who were the last High Kings of Ireland and whose flag was a lion rampant on a yellow and blue background.

Sligo colours

Black and White

The black and white are taken from the crest of the borough of Sligo, which features an eagle and a raven, and the colors are a tribute to the Sligo-born Celtic hero, Fionn Mac Cumhaill.

Leinster Counties

Dublin colours

Dark Blue and Light Blue

These colors are a tribute to the city's coastal location, with the dark blue representing the deep waters of the sea and the light blue symbolizing the sky.

Carlow colours

Green, Red and Yellow

The green, red and yellow are taken from the county crest, featuring a green hill with a red and yellow-striped banner.

Kildare colours

White

The all-white jersey is a tribute to Kildare's nickname, "The Lilywhites," which is taken from the white lily that is the county flower.

Kilkenny colours

Black and 'Amber'

These colors are a nod to the Kilkenny coat of arms, featuring a black background with a stylized orange-yellow 'cat' or 'lion.'

Laois colours

Blue and White

The blue and white are a tribute to the old county flag, which featured a blue background with a white "phoenix" in the center.

Longford colours

Blue and Gold

The blue and gold are a tribute to the county's motto, "Golden Longford," and are said to represent the clear skies and golden fields of the county.

Louth colours

Red and White

The red and white are a tribute to the county's nickname, "The Wee County," and are often said to represent the blood spilt during the county's many battles and the purity of the county's landscape.

Meath colours

Green and Gold

These colors are a tribute to the county's rich history, with the green representing the rolling fields of Meath and the gold symbolizing the county's royal past as the seat of the High Kings of Ireland.

Offaly colours

Green, White and Gold

The green, white and gold are taken from the colors of the Irish flag and are a tribute to the county's nickname, "The Faithful County," and its long history of patriotism.

Westmeath colours

Maroon and White

These colors are taken from the official crest of the county, featuring a ship on a white and maroon shield.

Wexford colours

Purple and Gold

These colors are taken from the county's coat of arms, featuring a purple background with a golden-yellow 'sun' or 'star' in the center.

Wicklow colours

Blue and Yellow

The blue and yellow are a tribute to the county's nickname, "The Garden of Ireland," with the blue representing the sky and the yellow symbolizing the golden fields of the county.

Munster Counties

Clare colours

Yellow and Blue

These colors are taken from the banner of the O'Brien clan, who were the Kings of Thomond (now County Clare) and had a long and powerful history in the area.

Cork colours

Red and White

The red and white colors are inspired by the flag of St. Finbarr, the patron saint of Cork, and are often said to represent the blood of Irish martyrs and the purity of Ireland.

Kerry colours

Green and Gold

These colors, often called the "Kingdom colors," signify the lush green landscape of Kerry and the golden sun that shines over the county.

Limerick colours

Green and White

The green is a reference to the many green fields of Limerick, while the white is a symbol of peace.

Tipperary colours

Blue and Yellow

These colors are a reference to the Tipperary flag, which features a golden sun on a blue field, and are said to symbolize the county's clear skies and bright future.

Waterford colours

Blue and White

The blue and white are a tribute to the county's maritime history, with blue representing the sea and white symbolizing the sails of its ships.

ULSTER Counties

Antrim (NI) colours

Saffron (deep yellow) and White

The saffron and white colors are a tribute to the ancient kings of Ulster, who wore saffron-colored robes, and are said to symbolize the golden sun and the purity of the county.

Armagh (NI) colours

Orange and White

The orange and white are a tribute to the county's nickname, "The Orchard County," with the orange representing the county's many apple trees and the white symbolizing their blossoms.

Cavan colours

Blue and White

The blue and white are taken from the O'Reilly clan's coat of arms, which features a blue background with a white lion rampant.

Derry (NI) colours

Red and White

The red and white are a nod to the red hand of Ulster, which is a symbol of the province, and the white is a symbol of the county's many peaceful landscapes.

Donegal colours

Green and Gold

The green and gold are a tribute to the county's lush green landscape and the golden beaches that line its coast.

Down (NI) colours

Red and Black

The red and black are a nod to the county's nickname, "The Mourne County," with the red representing the county's many battles and the black symbolizing the dark peaks of the Mourne Mountains.

Fermanagh (NI) colours

Green and White

The green and white are a tribute to the county's nickname, "The Lakelands," with the green representing the county's many fields and the white symbolizing the foam of its many lakes.

Monaghan colours

Blue and White

The white and blue are taken from the county's coat of arms, which features a white background with a blue shield.

Tyrone (NI) colours

Red and White

The white and red are a tribute to the county's nickname, "The Red Hand," and are often said to represent the blood spilt during the county's many battles and the purity of the county's landscape.

The Story Behind the Colours

Most county colours weren’t chosen at a board meeting—they evolved. In many cases, they reflected the colours of a dominant club at the time the county board was formed. Others were influenced by local symbols, school uniforms, or historical flags. Some counties kept colours from their first GAA jerseys in the 1880s and never looked back. It wasn’t about branding back then—it was about playing for your people. And those colours stuck. Even today, they’re loaded with meaning, often more than a county crest or motto.

Can County Colours Ever Change?

Technically, yes. But it rarely happens. The GAA allows counties to update kits or tweak tones for TV clarity, but fans resist major changes. In fact, colour clashes in finals are usually solved by one team wearing a reversed strip, not a redesign. The emotional tie runs too deep. Even minor changes can spark backlash. County boards know: don’t mess with the colours unless you’re ready for letters to the editor and local radio rants.

Max Panych

Manager