The contest was initiated by their Viking father, who could not, chose between his two sons. The hand itself is most likely red to represent the fact that it would have been covered in blood, hence why some depictions of the Red Hand are shown with fresh blood drips.Īnother variation of this story concludes that it was none other than Niall of the Nine Hostages who severed his own hand in order to win his crown from his brother. It reached the goal ahead of Dermott's horse, winning for Uí Néill/O’ Néill the crown of Ulster. As the two came in sight of the ending point, it seemed that Dermott would win, so the Uí Néill tribes Chief cut his hand off and threw it away. The High King suggested a horse race across the land. " There is yet 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 around strangford lough.Ī third story recounts how the Ui Neill Tribe and a man named Dermott, both wished to be king of Ulster. 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.Īnother myth goes with the following version : a boat race would take place between the brothers (possibly in Strangford Lough) and that "whosoever's hand is the first to touch the shore of Ulster, so shall he be made the king. The story of the arrival of Heremon, Heber, and Ir - sons of King Milesius of Spain (Galicia), who were dispatched to conquer Ireland in 504 BC. According to one myth, the Kingdom of Ulster had at one time no rightful heir. There have been countless myths written about this subject matter. One law states that no Chieftain/Chief or King can lead a tribe or Clan, if he or she is impaired in any manner, in particular the loss of a hand. From this perspective, there also seems to be a close relationship between the symbol of the hand and the Brehon Law system later in the Christianized period. Nuadu and Bolg were appellations of the Érainn or Ivernic, Sun-god, the equivalent term in the Gaelic language being Nél. Argatlámh signified 'Silver Hand ,' and his alias Bolg had a son, (mythologically speaking) named "Lámhdearg-Labraid" (Red Hand). It may have originally symbolized the pre-Christian Celtic Sun-god Nuadu – ‘he who dwells in the clouds'. The Red Hand was probably grounded on a theme in Gaelic mythology.
It is generally accepted that this Irish Gaelic symbol originated in Pagan times, and was first associated with the mythical figure Labraid Lámh Dhearg, or Labraid Lámderg (Labraid of the Red Hand).
In some versions, a left hand is used, and/or the thumb is opened (such as Tyrone GAA's crest). The symbol is rooted in Irish Gaelic culture and is particularly associated with the Ui Neill Tribe/ Ó Néill Clan in general, or in particular the Ó Néill septs of Ulster(Tyrone/ Clandeboye).
Its origins are said to be attributed to the mythical Irish figure Labraid Lámh Dhearg (Labraid of the Red Hand), and appear in other mythical tales passed down over generations in the ancient Irish oral tradition. Unfortunately for many members of the Ó Néill clan, it is less commonly known as the Red Hand of Ó Néill than that of Ulster or Ireland. The Red Hand of O’Neill ( Lámh Dhearg Ó Néill), also known as the Red Hand of Ulster (Lámh Dhearg Uladh ), or the Red Hand of Ireland ( Lámh Dhearg Éireann), is seen at times as a symbol to denote the Irish Province of Ulster.
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