The Isle of Man flag, the flag of NSW, the Australian flag, the flag of Wales and the Australian Aboriginal flag were among those which will now fly as a permanent fixture at the local tourist destination.

“These will stay here as a permanent monument,” Standing Stones Management Board chairperson Judi Toms told The Examiner.

The ceremony was also a chance to recognise the 25-year anniversary of the Glen Innes Celtic Festival, a milestone that Mrs Toms said was much attributed to the foresight and commitment of those involved in the very beginning.

“Just the foresight of those people who had the idea to start with, work with the Celtic Council of Australia and bring it to fruition is amazing,” she said.

“Glen Innes is known for its volunteerism but I think that’s really putting it out there.”

Mrs Toms said the new flags were just one of many projects that the Standing Stones Management Board and Council were working on to improve opportunities for Glen Innes both culturally and economically.

“There are lots of different ideas like the central plaque now that’s in the ground, these flagpoles, the painting that was done onsite earlier in the year – all of those things are continual upgrades of the project,” she said.

The board is also working on a solar movement project.

“That will be bronze markers in the ground to show the movement of the sun over the six-month period between the summer and winter solstice,” Mrs Toms said.

“It’s all about bringing to fruition various projects that utilise this sight in different ways.”

Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall, Deputy Mayor Carol Sparks and Mayor Steve Toms also attended the ceremony.

“This very much reflects the spirit of those people that got behind the stones,” Cr Toms said. 

“They saw a vision, they saw the opening and what they developed had so much value and was so well thought through that it’s enduring today.”

The 25th Celtic Festival kicks off on May 3.