The insignia of a Knight of the Most Illustrious Order of Saint Patrick (Image: Alamy Stock Photo)
Britain has been urged to revive one of one of the highest honours in its history to celebrate people with Irish roots.
The Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick was founded in 1783 but its last surviving knight died in 1974.
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There are now calls to honour the service of exceptional men and women by making new members of the order.
Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell said it would be a “fantastic thing to do”, noting that the Order of the Thistle continues in Scotland.
He said: “Imagine the pride people would feel in receiving the honour of St Patrick.”
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The revival of the honour would follow a succession of landmark moments in the warming of relations between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland – most notably Queen Elizabeth II’s state visit in 2011. Banners of members of the order continue to hang in St Patrick’s Hall in Dublin Castle.
Mr Rosindell said: “I think it would be a great symbolic gesture if this was to be restored. I think there are a lot of people in Northern Ireland and also in the south of Ireland who could be given that honour for their service to our country.”
Support also came from DUP MP Sammy Wilson, who wants the contributions of people from Ulster to British life to be recognised.
He said: “Over the centuries we have provided some of the greatest generals the British army has had, some of the greatest inventors the United Kingdom has benefited from, and I think it would be a very, very significant move to do that.”
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Mr Wilson also wants greater recognition of St Patrick as “one of the British saints”.
He said: “He came from Wales, and of course Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom.”
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However, Labour paymaster general Nick Thomas-Symonds made it clear this is not a priority for Sir Keir Starmer’s Government.
He said: “The Most Illustrious Order of Saint Patrick is in the personal gift of the Sovereign. The UK Government is not considering the restoration of The Order of St Patrick.
“Nominations for existing honours are open to all citizens within the four nations of the United Kingdom.”