Republic of Ireland Flag, from NASA

This Flag of the Republic of Ireland was flown to the moon on the Apollo 15 flight of 26 July – 7 August 1971.

The Flag and ‘High Flight’ arm patch were presented on 14 June, 1979 to the President of Ireland, Dr. Patrick Hillery for the people of Ireland by Jim Irwin, an Irish-American Astronaut.

The flag displayed here was one of a select number brought on board Apollo 15. Flags carried and returned to Earth included 25 United States flags, state and territory flags, and flags of all the United Nations members.

Apollo 15, carrying a crew of three, was only the fourth mission to land men on the Moon. It differed considerably from previous missions in that it was capable of longer stays on the Moon and greater surface mobility, which allowed for advanced exploration and research. The mission had a lunar stay of 66-hr 54 min 53 seconds and because of its advanced capabilities, collected significant lunar material, which was returned to Earth for research. The mission was launched from the Kennedy Space centre on July 26, 1971. Four days later, Apollo 15 landed and Jim Irwin became the seventh man to walk on the Moon. The mission ended successfully with a Pacific Splashdown on August 7th 1971.

An inscription on the back of the presentation written by Irwin reads:

“Hadley Base 1971
Lunar Module – Falcon
Rover I – Man’s first car on Moon
Col Jim Irwin – Dave Scott (photographer)
Mt Hadley S – 13,000 Ft High
Discovered ‘Genesis’ Rock at Base of Mt.
Jim Irwin found Green Rock near ‘Genesis’ Rock
Significant for Irishman to find such a rock!
Left Shamrock at Hadley Base

Jim Irwin Apollo 15
Born St. Patrick’s Day
17 March 1930”

Ref: 2005.194

Symbolism of the Irish Flag
The Moon
NASA: Biographical Data
NASA: The Apollo 15 Flight Journal
NASA
The President of Ireland
Patrick J. Hillery Exhibition
Insigna Collection