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Plomelin (Municipality, Finistère, France)

Ploveilh

Flag of Plomelin - Image by Arnaud Leroy, 25 July 2003

Presentation of Plomelin
Flag of Plomelin

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Presentation of Plomelin

Plomelin (4,000 inhabitants) is located on the right bank of the river Odet, 9 km from Quimper. The Breton name of the city is Ploveilh. The root plo- or plou- mens "parish" (from Latin plebs). Plomelin had in the past eight tide mills installed on the river Odet. The Rosulien mill, which was active until the end of the Second World War, was restored in 1997.
Every year for the Ascension week-end, Plomelin organizes the Football World Cup for 12-13 year old children. In 2001, 71 teams, including Dinamo Kiev and Anderlecht competed, and the honour guest of the Cup was the Croatian footballer Davor Suker, best scorer in the (adult) World Cup 1998.

Ivan Sache, 14 October 2002

Flag of Plomelin

The flag of Plomelin is white with two green stripes and a red dragon.
In 1970, Robert Omnès, Mayor of Plomelin, opened a contest for a municipal flag in Plomelin. According to the contest announcement in the local newspapers, the flag proposals could be based on the municipal arms, which had been adopted in 1968.

On 18 April 1968, Robert Omnès sent to the Departmental archivist Charpy a first draft of the new municipal arms of Plomelin, approved by the Municipal Council subject to the archivist's approval. The use of the Welsh red dragon and the Welsh colours, red, green and white, was a reference to St. Melinn and St. Davit, the Welsh patron saints of Plomelin and Bodivit. On 4 May 1968, the Departmental archivist approved the project. On 30 September 1968, Miss Suzanne Gauthier, artist heraldist (who designed the arms of the French Austral and Antarctic Territories), was hired to paint the arms of Plomelin, "gouache painting, gold and silver, on thick Bristol board, 26 x 32 cm". On 16 December, the Municipal Council of Plomelin approved Miss Gauthier's first draft. The definitive painting of the arms was achieved on 16 January 1969. The arms show on a white field with a green border a red dragon with a necklace of ermines.
The flag proposed by Bernard Le Brun was selected among other proposals. It is directly derived from the coat of arms. The five stripes recall the five religious buildings of the municipality: the parochial church, the church of Bodivit, the St. Philibert, St. Roch and St. Connec chapels. The two green stripes recall the two parishes of Plomelin and Bodivit, which constitute the municipality of Plomelin. The red dragon recalls the two patron saints of Plomelin. It wears a necklace of ermine to look more Breton.
The staff of the flag should be blue, to recall the river which waters the municipality. The finial should be a bronze manor to recall the castles of Plomelin.

On 8 November 1970, the flag of Plomelin was officially hoisted during the inauguration of the Youth House. The flag was very popular and widely used all over the municipality. However, all flags were stolen one by one and the municipality could not afford their replacement. Therefore, there is no municipal flag flying today in Plomelin.

Source: Bernard Le Brun. Le drapeau de Plomelin. Ar Banniel [arb] #4, Winter 1997, p. 5-7

Ivan Sache, 25 July 2003