The Ulster Banner (Irish: Meirge Uladh), also known as the Flag of Northern Ireland, is a heraldic banner taken from the former Coat of Arms of Northern Ireland, consisting of a red cross on a white field, upon which is a crowned six-pointed star with a red hand in the centre.

It was the flag of the former Government of Northern Ireland and common flag of Northern Ireland from 1953 until that government was abolished in 1972.

The arms and flag were designed in Dublin Castle by Major Sir Nevile Wilkinson, Ulster King of Arms, in 1923–1924. The flag is based on the flag of the traditional province of Ulster, including a Red Hand of Ulster in the centre, and the red de Burgh cross (though some claim this is the Saint George's Cross). It has the addition of a crown to represent the monarchy of the United Kingdom. Rather than a shield, the Red Hand is inside a six pointed star, representing the six counties that make up Northern Ireland. It is blazoned: "Argent a cross gules, overall on a six pointed star of the field ensigned by an Imperial crown proper a Dexter hand coupled at the wrist of the second".

The flag is also sometimes called the Ulster flag, Northern Ireland flag, the (old) Stormont flag, or the Red Hand of Ulster flag. Loyalists often use 'Ulster' as another name for Northern Ireland, despite the fact that 3 of the 9 counties which make up Ulster are in the Republic of Ireland, and Stormont was the seat of the former Government of Northern Ireland. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulster_Banner#:~:text=The Ulster Banner (Irish%3A Meirge,red hand in the center.)