If the Irish flag flies beside another flag in Ireland why does the Irish flag fly higher?

Answer 1

It is protocol for handling the Irish flag in Ireland. The same applies in many countries with national flags. An Irish flag flying in Another Country would not be flown highest, whereas the flag of that country might be. It is the national flag of Ireland, so it is of greater importance than any other flag in Ireland, and so it is flown higher than other flags.

Answer 2

Many (possibly most, I'm not sure) countries have a requirement that when their national flag is flown with other flags, it must take "pride of place", which means that at the very least it cannot be lower than any of the other flags.

For example, the US Flag Code specifies that the US flag should always be flown higher than the flag of any state or municipality (above if on the same pole or on a taller pole if on separate poles). When flown with the flag of another nation, the flags should be at the same height (it's always improper to fly two national flags on the same pole).

Answer 3

It is the national flag, so in Ireland it takes precedence over all others and so it is flown higher. That is the standard protocol for flying an Irish flag in Ireland.