Flag of Ulster

This article is about the flag of the historic province of Ulster. For the flag of the Northern Ireland government between 1953 and 1972, see Ulster Banner.

The Flag of Ulster

The Flag of Ulster is a historic banner used to represent Ulster, one of the four provinces of Ireland. It is still used today to represent the province at some sporting events and formed the basis of the Ulster Banner, the flag of the Government of Northern Ireland between 1953 and 1972. The Red Hand of Ulster is a symbol derived from the O'Neill dynasty who were historic monarchs of the provincial kingdom, while the gold background featuring a red cross comes from the coat of arms of the Burkes, a Hiberno-Norman noble family.

History

The arms of the historic province of Ulster is a composite achievement, combining the heraldic symbols of two of that province's best known families, namely the cross of de Burgh and the red hand motif adopted by the O Neill (Ua Néill, later Ó Néill) Kings of Ailech and Tír Eoghan.

The celebrated 'Red Hand' badge of O'Neill was probably grounded on a theme in Gaelic mythology. It may have originally symbolized the pre-Christian Celtic sun-god Nuadu – 'he who dwells in the clouds'. The latter's well-known designation, Argatlámh signified 'silver Hand' and his alias Bolg had a son, (mythologically speaking) named "Lámhdearg-Labraid" (Red Hand). Nuadu and Bolg were appellations of the Érainn or Ivernic, sun-god, the equivalent term in the Gaelic language being Nél.

The open right hand, the Dextera Dei, has also been employed as a Christian symbol. In early Christian iconography God the Father was frequently represented by the open right hand occasionally within a circle or nimbus. An example of this motif can be seen on one of the arms of the 10th century High Cross of Muiredach at Monasterboice, County Louth. It signifies the support of God the Father for the Kingdom of Christ on earth. An early heraldic use in Ireland of the open right hand can be seen in the seal of Odonis (Hugh) O Neill, king of the Irish of Ulster, 1344-1364.

The Burke arms

When Walter de Burgh, Lord of Connacht, became Earl of Ulster in 1243 the de Burgo cross became inseparably linked with the province of Ulster. The seal of his son Richard, for example, appended to a deed dated 1282, shows the heraldic cross in triplicate together with what may well be a portrait head of the Earl himself.

The Uí Néill

The term Uí Néill denotes "grandsons/descendants of Niall", the ancestor noted being Niall of the Nine Hostages (Niall Noigíallach), a legendary Connacht king active in the first half of the 5th century. His sons, grandsons and great-grandsons attacked the kingdoms of In Tuisceairt, Airgíalla, Ulaid, Cenél Maine, Tethba, Mide and Leinster in the generations after his death, either ruling directly or via vassal kings. The dynasty subsequently divided into two main divisions: the Clann Cholmáin Kings of Mide, who later adopted the surname Ua Maél Séchlainn and ruled central Ireland; and the Uí Néill In Tuisceart (the Uí Néill of The North), whose senior line took the surname Ó Néill and ruled as Kings of Tir Eoghan until 1607.

Coats of arms used by individuals bearing surnames of families of Uí Néill descent - Ó Catháin (now O'Kane), Ó Maelsechlainn (now McLoughlin), Mac Loughlin (now McLaughlin), Ó Catharnaigh of Donegal (now Kearney) and Ó Neill/O'Neill, O'Lorcain (now Larkin) and others all feature the red hand in some manner, recalling their common descent.

Origin legend

The story of the Red Hand of Ulster reputedly dates to the arrival of Heremon, Heber and Ir - sons of King Milesius of Spain (Galicia), who were dispatched to conquer Ireland in 504 BC. One of them supposedly cut off his hand and tossed it ashore, that he might be the one to have first claim to the land. There is another story about the hand belonging to one of two giants engaged in battle, whose hand was cut off in the process and left a red imprint on the rocks. A third story recounts how Uí Néill and a man named Dermott both wished to be king of Ulster. The High King suggested a horse race across the land. As the two came in sight of the ending point, it seemed that Dermott would win, so Uí Néill cut his hand off and threw it. It reached the goal ahead of Dermott's horse, winning for Uí Néill the crown of Ulster. Ultimately the story derives from Celtic mythology of the Silver Hand of Lir.

However its actual original form was probably based on the division of the "derbfhine", which came to place more importance on dynastic rather than "tuatha" affiliation as early as the 4th century, and was thus reflective of wider changes then current in Irish society (see Tanistry).

Present forms and uses

The flag of Ulster is usually displayed alongside the flags of Leinster, Munster, Connacht, or as part of the combined flag of the Provinces of Ireland.

The flag is the official flag of the Ulster rugby team.

The O'Neills

Today there are many branches of the original O'Neill clan, these include O'Neal and O'Neil. The O'Neills are unique in the fact that they can trace their family history back to 360 AD and earlier. There are currently O'Neills spread all throughout Ireland, Scotland, Europe, the United states of America and many more countries.

Notes

The National Library of Ireland [1]