Europe · Vertical tricolour
How to draw the flag of Ireland
The flag of Ireland is three equal vertical bands — green, white and orange from the hoist. It flies at a ratio of 1:2.
Step by step
- Start with the right shape. Ireland flies at 1:2 — for every 2 units of width the flag is 1 tall. Sketch that rectangle first; a flag drawn too square is the fastest way to lose layout points.
- Divide the width into three. Mark two guide lines before you fill anything in. Even bands matter more than neat edges — the scorer cares where the colour blocks sit.
- Band 1: green. Fill the first band from the hoist with green. Use the fill tool rather than shading — flat blocks score better than sketchy strokes.
- Band 2: white. Fill the second band from the hoist with white. Use the fill tool rather than shading — flat blocks score better than sketchy strokes.
- Band 3: orange. Fill the third band from the hoist with orange. Use the fill tool rather than shading — flat blocks score better than sketchy strokes.
Ireland flag colours
The colour codes below are the ones to reach for if you are recreating the flag digitally.
| Colour | Hex | RGB |
|---|---|---|
| Green | #169B62 | rgb(22, 155, 98) |
| White | #FFFFFF | rgb(255, 255, 255) |
| Orange | #FF883E | rgb(255, 136, 62) |
What the flag means
Green for the Gaelic tradition, orange for the followers of William of Orange, and white for peace between them.
Common mistakes
- Drawing the last stripe gold. It is orange — gold turns it into Côte d’Ivoire reversed.
- Watch out for Côte d'Ivoire, Italy and India — they are close enough to Ireland that people draw the wrong one from memory.
A trick for remembering it
Green is at the hoist, orange at the fly. Ireland reads left to right; Côte d’Ivoire is its mirror.
Flags that look like this one
Side-by-side breakdowns of the pairs people mix up:
Questions about the Ireland flag
What colours are on the flag of Ireland?
Ireland uses 3 colours: green (#169B62), white (#FFFFFF), orange (#FF883E).
What order are the bands on the Ireland flag?
Green, then White, then Orange — starting at the flagpole and moving to the fly.
What are the proportions of the Ireland flag?
It flies at 1:2 (height to width). Drawing it at the wrong shape is one of the quickest ways to lose layout marks in the game.
What does the Ireland flag mean?
Green for the Gaelic tradition, orange for the followers of William of Orange, and white for peace between them.
Which flags look like the Ireland flag?
Côte d'Ivoire, Italy, India. Watch out for Côte d'Ivoire, Italy and India — they are close enough to Ireland that people draw the wrong one from memory.
How hard is the Ireland flag to draw from memory?
PlayVexle rates it 1 out of 5. Flat colour blocks and no fine detail, so most players score in the eighties or nineties.
