What is now known as St Patrick's flag (argent a saltire gules) has been in use as an Irish flag for many years before it was incorporated into the Union Flag in 1801, but not universally. In order to give Scotland precedence over Ireland in the Union Flag the saltire of the 'St Patrick's Cross' were counterchanged as Scotland was in the Union earlier. It is wrongly considered that this was to allow the Union Flag to be flown upside down at sea as a sign of distress, but the Union Flag is not used in this way.

I'll get me anorak!