Presented as a gift in 1848 to Thomas Francis Meagher from a small group of French women sympathetic to Irish nationalism,[3] it was intended to symbolise the inclusion and hoped-for union between Roman Catholics (symbolised by the green colour) and Protestants (symbolised by the orange colour).
So it literally is just a cloth that was slated to become a French flag but dyed different colors and pawned off as a gift to the Irish? Neat!
Ah the meaning (and motive of the French ladies who designed it) is quite distinct though no doubt heavily influenced by the flag of the French Revolution.
aspect ratio is different , the irish 2:1 is a ＷＩＤＥ ＢＯＩ