The Department of the Taoiseach's guide to the flag of Ireland includes a list of "practices to avoid". This states in part "The National Flag should never be defaced by placing slogans, logos, lettering or pictures of any kind on it,[End]

The practice of writing slogans on the tricolour was mainly done by soccer supporters attending Irish matches. The main culprits nowadays are ballad groups. These people above anybody else should know better as most have a good understanding of Irish history and sing about our brave men and women who fought to gain independence and the right to fly our own national flag, but what do they do ? They place the name of their ballad group on the tricolour, defacing it. This is not right lads and this should stop. The flag was hard fought for and should be respected. Below are just a few examples I came across of the nation flag being defaced by slogans and graffiti.

The photo just above is the proper way to display the Irish flag at gigs,standing proud with no graffiti.