Caithness Flag Launched

26th January 2016

A nordic cross and galley symbolising ancient ties to the Vikings are part of the winning design of the flag for Caithness.

Councillor Gail Ross, Civic Leader of The Highland Council in Caithness unfurled the new at a Flag Order of Ceremony held in Wick Town Hall today (26 January 2016).

Councillor Ross thanks the John OGroat Journal who had set the ball rolling to get a flag for Caithness.

The Lord Lyon King of Arms and Caithness Members of The Highland Council were piped in to the ceremony by bagpiper Cllr David Bremner. School children from local Primaries and Secondaries, businesses and Community Council representatives also attended the Order of Ceremony

Philip Tibbetts, of the Flag Institute and Dr Joseph Morrow, Lord Lyon King of Arms both gave an address to the accompanied guests.

With the support of the Lord Lyon; The Flag Institute and the local community, The Highland Council launched a competition to design a flag for Caithness in February 2015. Four shortlisted designs were revealed in June 2015 and the public were invited to vote for their favourite.

The winner is design A - the nordic cross which symbolises the ancient ties of the county to the Vikings. The black recalls the countys geology with the famous Caithness flagstone, while the gold and blue refer to the beaches and sea to reinforce the maritime nature of the county and its heritage. In the first quarter is charged a galley, which is the traditional emblem of Caithness, including a raven upon its sail as it appears in the countys civic arms.

The flag design can be made available to Caithness businesses seeking to get brand identity with the area. Any business that wishes to reproduce the flag on items for sale should get in touch with the ward manager David Sutherland. Suggestions have been made that items such as lapel badges using the flag might prove popular with locals and visitors. It is expected there wil be many suggestions from entreprenuers locally.

Flags will shortly be available to purchase both small and large.

The four options can be seen HERE