On the 3rd of May 1921, Northern Ireland was established as a separate legal entity and joined Scotland, Wales and England as part of the United Kingdom. Very soon, the time will come to celebrate a rich century of history, culture and achievements as we celebrate the region’s first anniversary. How will you be marking the momentous occasion?

Home of the iconic Giants Causeway, gorgeous Dunluce Castle and sweeping Glens, there are a lot of reasons to love Northern Ireland. While the Union Jack represents the nation’s official flag, its rich history and many traditions make it truly unique. To help you celebrate Northern Ireland’s centenary in style on May 3rd 2021, we’ve lined up a list of great ideas for ways that you can mark the occasion.

Host Your Own Anniversary Party

What better way to commemorate a centennial than with your own, at home get-together? While official celebrations may be more low-key than usual for the foreseeable future, garden parties and themed family dinners are on the rise! 

At-home festivities give people a chance to unite and celebrate in a meaningful way, while marking the historic achievements of Northern Ireland through narratives, reflections  and time-honoured traditions. At The Flag Shop, we’ll be decorating the office halls with vibrant Northern Ireland bunting, cooking up some hot soda bread farl and tucking into sweet, coconut-studded fifteens. 

To pay tribute to Northern Ireland’s cultural achievements, we’ll even be raising a special Northern Ireland Centenary Flag, a striking themed combination of the St George’s Cross with specially chosen NI-inspired emblems of the country. We’ll be swapping stories about hikes along the rugged volcanic coastland, cobbled streets of Belfast and the history of the formation of the United Kingdom.

Getting your home ready for your Northern Ireland 100 anniversary party? Consider designing your own centrepieces from Northern Ireland Table Flags and get creative with red, white, and shamrock-studded adornments. For our celebrations, we’ll be using Northern Ireland-themed table flag placemarkers for each of our guests and we’ll even be driving colourfully with our Northern Ireland car flags!

Hold a Community Event

As well as a history steeped in tradition, Northern Ireland is a creative hub for many up-and-coming artists and has earned a name for itself on the world stage. Organising a community event is a splendid way to support the country’s burgeoning art scene and recognise the achievements of its local talent.

Throughout Belfast and online, museums, galleries and digital communities will be celebrating Northern Ireland’s budding artists and designers with gorgeous displays of regional work and there’s no reason you can’t organise the same in your community!

Town halls, libraries, schools, football clubs and more all make exceptional venues for showcasing your favourite Northern Irish creations and a centenary theme is easy to create with regional adornments. With a Northern Ireland 6 counties flag, local clubs, workspaces, studios, shops, and offices can promote their community events in a showstopping way, while an Orange Order flag paints the perfect backdrop for a celebration of the country’s next hundred years ahead. Why not give a nod to tradition with a Northern Ireland King William of Orange flag as you showcase the future?

Decorate Your Business

Lucky enough to be celebrating in the region herself? As a Northern Irish business, the 3rd of May is the perfect time to thank and honour your local clientele with a themed party or pub  night!

Some brilliant ideas for a Northern Ireland 100th Anniversary event in your venue might include themed quizzes, screenings of epic NI football wins, or musical performances by local artists. Attract street traffic to your pub, restaurant, cafe, bistro, or shop with tempting regional fare, such as pasties and Ulster Fry and celebrate your country’s achievements with tales over craft beer and Irish coffee. 

Promote your event and let people know where to find you with the right outdoor signage, whether that’s a Northern Ireland Nylon Flag or striking Northern Ireland Loyalist Ensign Flag to make a real impact. If you’re hosting a sports match viewing out of doors, why not get your customers in the spirit with promotional hand waving flags to commemorate the occasion?

Here at The Flag Shop, we’re always looking for reasons to celebrate. So we’re already planning ahead to commemorate this momentous milestone. How will you be celebrating?