The Red Hand of Ulster, dexter and sinister versions

TheRed Hand of Ulster (Irish:Lámh Dhearg Uladh) is a symbol used inheraldry^[1] to denote theIrish province ofUlster and theNorthern Uí Néill in particular. It has also been used however by other Irish clans across the island, including the ruling families of westernConnacht (i.e., the O'Flahertys and MacHughs) and the chiefs of the Midlands (e.g., O'Daly, O'Kearney, etc.).^[2]

It is an open hand coloured red, with the fingers pointing upwards, the thumb held parallel to the fingers, and the palm facing forward. It is usually shown as a right hand, but is sometimes a left hand, such as in the coats of arms ofbaronets.

The Red Hand is rooted inGaelic culture as the sign of a great warrior. It is believed to date back topagan times.

The Red Hand is first documented in surviving records in the 13th century, where it was used by the Hiberno-Norman de Burghearls of Ulster.^[3] It wasWalter de Burgh who became firstEarl of Ulster in 1243 who combined the de Burgh cross with the Red Hand to create a flag that represented the Earldom of Ulster and later became the modernFlag of Ulster.

It was afterwards adopted by theO'Neills when they assumed the ancient kingship of Ulster, inventing the titleRex Ultonie (king of Ulster) for themselves in 1317 and then claiming it unopposed from 1345 onwards.^[4][5][6] An early Irish heraldic use in Ireland of the open right hand can be seen in the seal ofAodh Reamhar Ó Néill, king of the Irish of Ulster, 1344–1364.^[7]

An early-15th-century poem byMael Ó hÚigínn is namedLámh dhearg Éireann í Eachach,^[8][9] the first line of which is a variation of the title:"Lamh dhearg Éiriond Ibh Eathoch",^[9] translated as "The Úí Eachach are the 'red hand' of Ireland".^[10] TheUí Eachach were one of theCruthin tribes (known as theDál nAraidi after 773^[11]) that made up the ancient kingdom ofUlaid.^[12][13]

The Red Hand symbol is believed to have been used by the O'Neills during itsNine Years' War (1594–1603) againstEnglish rule in Ireland, and thewar crylámh dearg Éireann abú! ("the Red Hand of Ireland to victory") was also associated with them.^[14] An English writer of the time noted "The Ancient Red Hand of Ulster, the bloody Red Hand, a terrible cognizance! And in allusion to that terrible cognizance—the battle cry of Lamh dearg abu!"^[6]

The Order of Baronets was instituted byletters patent dated 10 May 1612, which state that "the Baronets and their descendants shall and may bear, either in a canton in their coat of arms, or in aninescutcheon, at their election, the arms of Ulster, that is, in a field argent, a hand gules, or a bloody hand."^[15] The oldest baronets used adexter (right) hand just like the O'Neills; however, it later became asinister (left) hand.^[15]

The exclusive rights to the use of the Red Hand symbol have proven a matter of debate over the centuries, primarily whether it belonged to theO'Neills or theMagennises. The O'Neills became the chief dynasty of theCenél nEógain of theNorthern Uí Néill and later thekings of Ulster, whilst the Magennises were the ruling dynasty of theUí Eachach Cobo, the chief dynasty of the Cruthin of Ulaid,^[13] and also head of theClanna Rudraige.^[16] A 16th-century poem noted disagreement between the"Síol Rúraí" (an alias for Clanna Rudraige) and the Northern Uí Néill.

A dispute, dated to 1689, arose between several Irish poets about whose claim to the Red Hand was the most legitimate.^[3][17][18]

• Diarmaid Mac an Bhaird, one of the last fully trainedIrish bardic poets,^[19] admonishes the claim of the O'Neills to the Red Hand, arguing that it rightly belongs to the Magennises, who should be allowed to keep it.^[17] He supports his statement citing several medieval texts attributing it toConall Cernach, the legendary ancestor of the Uí Eachach Cobo.^[17]
• Eoghan Ó Donnghaile refutes theClanna Róigh (Clanna Rudraige) right to the symbol.^[17] He cites a story based on theLebor Gabála Érenn claiming that it belongs to the descendants ofÉrimón, from whomConn of the Hundred Battles and thus the O'Neills are said to descend.^[17]
• NiallMac Muireadhaigh dismisses both these claims and states that the symbol belongs to theClann Domhnaill (Clandonnell, descended from theThree Collas, the legendary ancestors of theAirgíalla).^[17] Mac Muireadhaigh derides Ó Donnghaile as a fool and finds it deplorable that he is an author.^[17]

Further poetic quatrains in the dispute were written by Mac an Baird, Ó Donnghaile, as well as by Mac an Bhaird's son Eoghain.^[17] TheMac an Bhairds appear to deride Ó Donnghaile as not having come from a hereditary bardic family and that he is of very low rank without honour, as well as hinting at his family's genealogical link to the O'Neills.^[17]

Writing in 1908, the then head of the O'Neill clan says of the Red Hand: "History teaches us that already in pagan days it was adopted by the O'Neills from the Macgennis, who were princes in the north of Ireland region inhabited by them".^[20]

Those involved in the bardic dispute of 1689 claimed that the Red Hand symbol came from a legendary ancestor who put his bloodstained hand on a banner after victory in battle:

• Diarmaid Mac an Bhaird claimed that Conall Cernach (a mythical Ulaid hero from theUlster Cycle) put his bloodied hand on a banner as he avenged the death ofCú Chulainn (another mythical Ulaid hero), and it has belonged to the descendants of Conall since then.^[17] This he says is backed up by medieval texts such as theScéla Mucce Meic Da Thó ("The Tale of Mac Da Thó's Pig"), theLeabhar Ultach (also known as theSenchas Ulad andSenchas Síl Ír), and Ó hÚigínn's poem beginningLámh Éireann í Eachach.^[17]
• Eoghan Ó Donnghaile, basing his tale on theLebor Gabála Érenn, claimed that after theMilesians defeated theTuatha Dé Danann, they are granted three precious objects, amongst them a banner bearing the red hand.^[17] This banner eventually ended up without contest in the hands of the descendants of Míl's sonÉrimón, from whom Conn of the Hundred Battles and thus the O'Neills are said to descend.^[17] The surviving texts of theLebor Gabála Érenn mentionfour treasures but not a banner.^[17]
• Niall Mac Muireadhaigh claimed that when the Three Collasdefeated the Ulaid, that one of the Collas placed their bloodied hand on a banner taken from them.^[17] He then states the Clann Domhnaill have used the symbol within his own time, and accepts the poemLámh Éireann í Eachach.^[17] However, according to historian Gordon Ó Riain, Mac Muireadhaigh has mistaken theí Eachach element to mean the descendants ofEchu Doimlén, father of the Collas, when in fact it is in reference to Echu Coba, legendary ancestor of the Magennises.^[17]

F.J. Bigger in a paper read before the Royal Irish Academy in April 1900 noted the use of a right hand by the O'Neills around 1335, and surmises that it may have been for them a symbol signifying divine assistance and strength, whilst also suggesting that the ancientPhoenicians may have brought the symbol to Ireland.^[21]

In medieval Irish literature, several real and legendary kings were given the byname 'red hand' or 'red handed' to signify that they were great warriors.^[22] One is the mythical High King of Ireland,Lugaid Lámderg (Lugaid the red handed), who, according toEugene O'Curry, is cited in one Irish legend as being king of the Cruthin of Ulaid during the reign of the mythicalConchobar Mac Nessa.^[23][24] The O'Neills believed in the Middle Ages that amessianic 'red handed' king called Aodh Eangach would come to lead them and drive the English out of Ireland.^[22] In a 1901 edition of theAll Ireland Review, a writer called "M.M." suggests that the Red Hand is named after the founder of the Clanna Rudraige,Rudraige mac Sithrigi,^[25] and that Rudraige's name may mean "red wrist".^[25] In another edition a "Y.M." suggests likewise, arguing that Rudraige's name means "red arm".^[26] They also suggest that theCróeb Ruad (Red Branch) of ancient Ulaid may actually come fromcrob andruadh (red hand).^[26]

In another legend which has become widespread, the first man to lay his hand on the province of Ulster would have claim to it.^[27] As a result, the warriors rushed towards land with one chopping off his hand and throwing it over his comrades and thus winning the land.^[27] In some versions of the tale, the person who cuts off his hand belongs to the O'Neills, or isNiall of the Nine Hostages himself.^{[citation needed]} In other versions, the person is the mythicalÉrimón.^[28]

In medieval Irish literature, several real and legendary kings were given the byname "red hand" or "red-handed" (lámhdhearg orcrobhdhearg). It signified that they were great warriors, their hands being red with the blood of their enemies.^[22]

• The ancient Irish godNuada Airgetlám (Nuada the silver-handed) was also known by the alias Nuada Derg Lamh, the red-handed, amongst other aliases.^[29] Nuada is stated in theBook of Lecan as being the ancestor of theEoganachta andDál gCais ofMunster.^[29]
• Lugaid Lámderg is a legendary figure who appears in theBook of Leinster and the "chaotic past" of the descent of the Dál gCais.^[30][31] His epithet meaning "red hand", was transferred to Lugaid Meann around the start of the Irish historic period.^[30]
• Labraid Lámderg (red hand Labraid) is a character in theFenian Cycle ofIrish mythology, who is the friend of the warrior heroOscar.^[1][32]
• The Annals of the Four Masters mentions "Reachta Righdhearg" (Rechtaid Rígderg) as aHigh King of Ireland.^[33] He gained the name "Righdhearg" according to Geoffrey Keating as he had an arm that was "exceeding Red".^[33] Reachta is listed as the great-grandson of "Lughaigdh Lamdhearg" (Lugaid Lámderg).^[33]
• Cathal Crobhdearg Ua Conchobair, otherwise known as "Cathal the Red-Handed O'Conor", was a king ofConnacht in the early 13th century.^[34] There is a poem that is attributed as having been composed between 1213 and Cathal's death in 1224, which makes frequent reference to Cathal's red hand.^[35]
• A Dermott Lamhdearg is cited byMeredith Hanmer in his "Chronicles of Ireland" (first published in 1633), as being aking of Leinster who fought a battle around the start of the 5th century against an army of marauders at Knocknigen near Dublin.^[36]
• The Kavanaghs ofBorris, County Carlow, descend from Dermot Kavanagh Lamhdearg, lord ofSt Mullin's, the second son of Gerald Kavanagh, Lord of Ferns in 1431.^[37] Gerald was descended fromDomhnall Caomhánach, a son ofDiarmait Mac Murchada,king of Leinster.^[37]
• The Cavenaghs of Kildare that became part of theProtestant Ascendancy are kin of the Kavanagh's of Borris and according to their own traditions claim descent from a Cathair Rua Caomhánach who was said to descend the Lámhdhearg (Red Hand) branch of theCaomhánach clan.^[38]
• Quatran 78 of the classical Irish poemCarn Fraoich Soitheach na Saorchlann, makes mention of the "inghean ríogh lámhdhearg Laighean", translated as 'a descendant (lit. 'daughter') of the red-handed kings of Leinster'.[39] This poem, as well as the related poemOsnach Carad i gCluain Fraoch, mention a Carn Lámha, the burial place of Fraoch's hand.^[40]
• Gleoir Lamhderg, or Gleoir the red-handed, was a king of the Lamraighe and allegedly the step-father ofFionn mac Cumhaill from theFenian Cycle of Irish mythology.^[41] The Lamraighe are claimed as descending from Lamha, a son ofConchobar mac Nessa, a legendary king of Ulster.^[41]

TheDextera Dei, or "Right Hand of God", is a symbol that appears on only three high crosses in Ireland: theCross of Muiredach atMonasterboice; the Cross of KingFlann (also known as the Cross of the Scriptures) atClonmacnoise; and the Cross in the Street ofKells.^[21] The former two have the full hand with fingers extended similar to the Red Hand.^[21] The form and position of the Kells Dextera Dei is of a pattern usually found on the Continent, whereas that used at Monasterboice and Clonmacnoise appears to unique within Christendom.^[21]

Bigger suggested the mention of the Dextera Dei in Psalm 118 and Acts 2 represented the old-world figurative expression signifying strength and power, and such hand symbols can be found in ancient civilisations including amongst others theAssyrians,Babylonians,Carthaginians,Chaldeans andPhoenicians.^[21] It is also used by Jews, Muslims, and can be found in use inPalestine andMorocco.^[21]Aboriginal Australians revered the hands of their deceased chieftains.^[21] In the published version of his paper Bigger mentions a book published after he'd read his paper,Horns of Plenty byF. T. Elworthy (though F.J. appears instead of F.T.), writing that it conclusively proved the ancient character and widespread usage of the symbol amongst early pagan civilisations.^[21]

According toCharles Vallancey in 1788, a red hand pointing upwards was the armorial symbol of the kings of Ireland, and that it was still in use by the O'Brien family, whose motto wasLamh laidir an uachdar, meaning "the strong hand up" or "the strong hand will prevail".^[42] Hands feature prominently in Dermot O'Connor's 18th-century publication "Blazons and Irish Heraldic Terminology", with theÓ Fearghail sept bearing the mottoLámh dhearg air chlogad lúptha.^[43]

In some Central Europeanarmorials of the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, theKingdom of Galicia is represented by acoat of arms with a red hand or a red glove. It may be due to the phonetic similarity betweenGaelic andGalician ('canting arms' used to do this deliberately or by confusion, such asGalice-Calice or D'Aragón-Dragón), or by the assimilation of the Galician people with theMilesians (people ofBreogán). The most common heraldic shield in Galicia, as an autonomous region or as a kingdom, is agrail with crosses or shamrocks from the 13th century to the present day. In the 17th century St. James of Compostella (Santiago de Compostela) became, according to the bishop Thomas Strong (uncle of Thomas White, founder of the Irish College of Compostela after theFlight of the Earls) the "true capital of theIrish people in exile".^[44]

• 
  Coat of arms ofKingdom of Galicia inMiltenberg armorial, c. 1486–1500.
• 
  Coat of arms of Galicia inSammelband mehrerer Wappenbücher, c. 1530.
• 
  Coat of arms of Galicia inHofkleiderbuch, 1508–1551.
• 
  Coat of arms of Galicia in another German armorial, 17th century

This sectionneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.(September 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

In modern times the Red Hand sees use by both Irish nationalists and Ulster loyalists, although is more closely associated with the latter, whosemurals often centre the symbol as a focal point.^[45] However it is still one of the few cross-community symbols.^[46] The Red Hand is present in thecoat of arms of five out of the nine of Ulster's counties, namelyAntrim,Cavan,Londonderry,Monaghan andTyrone.^[47] It also appears in theUlster Banner, the official flag of Northern Ireland until 1973.^[48] and is used by many other official and non-official organisations throughout the province.

The Red Hand features in other Irish clancoats of arms including theO'Donnellys,O'Cahans, theMcHughs of County Galway and their fellow Connacht kinsmen the Flahertys, Dalys, Melaghlins and Kearneys. On the O'Neill and Donnelly coat of arms the motto isLámh Dhearg Éireann (Red Hand of Ireland).^[49] The arms of the chiefs of the ScottishClan MacNeil (ofBarra) contain the Red Hand; the clan has traditionally claimed descent fromNiall of the Nine Hostages. Many other families have used the Red Hand to highlight an Ulster ancestry.^{[citation needed]} The head of theGuinness family, theEarl of Iveagh, has three Red Hands on his arms granted as recently as 1891.^[50]

The arms ofthe Irish Society that carried out thePlantation of Ulster feature the Red Hand.^[51]

A left (sinister) Red Hand is an option forbaronets to add to their arms to indicate their rank. TheCollege of Arms formally allowed this in 1835, ruling that the baronets of England, Ireland, Great Britain or the United Kingdom may "bear either acanton in their coat of arms, or in an escutcheon, at their pleasure, the arms of Ulster (to wit) a Hand Gules or a Bloody Hand in a Field Argent."^[52] It isblazoned as follows:A hand sinister couped at the wrist extended in pale gules.^[53]

King James I of England established the hereditary Order of Baronets in England on 22 May 1611, in the words of Collins (1741): "for the plantation and protection of the whole Kingdom of Ireland, but more especially for the defence and security of the Province of Ulster, and therefore for their distinction those of this order and their descendants may bear (the Red Hand of Ulster) in their coats of arms either in a canton or an escutcheon at their election".^[53] Such baronets may also display the Red Hand of Ulster on its own as abadge, suspended by a ribbon below the shield of arms.^[54]Baronets of Nova Scotia, unlike other baronets, do not use the Red Hand of Ulster, but have their own badge showing theRoyal Arms of Scotland on a shield over theSaltire of St Andrew.^[52] The left-hand version has also been used by theIrish National Foresters, the Irish Citizen Army, and theFederated Workers' Union of Ireland.

• 
  The flag of the province of Ulster
• 
  Four Provinces Flag of Ireland
• 
  Flag of Northern Ireland (1953–1972)
• 
  Ensign of theRoyal Ulster Yacht Club
• 
  House flag of the Larne and Stranraer Steamboat Company
• 
  House flag of the Ulster Steamship Company
• 
  Badge worn by baronets of the United Kingdom
• 
  Seal with left hand for theCurtius baronets
• 
  The coat of arms of theGNR.
• 
  Republican National Graves Association, Belfast
• 
  Arms ofO'Neill Hall at theUniversity of Notre Dame
• 
  Arms ofMagennis ofIveagh
• 
  Arms ofMcCartan, a branch of the Magennis

• Saint Ultan
• National symbols of Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland

• 13th-century introductions
• Heraldic charges
• Northern Irish heraldry
• Ulster
• Red symbols
• Hands in culture

• Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from June 2020
• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• Articles containing Irish-language text
• All articles with unsourced statements
• Articles with unsourced statements from September 2017
• Articles needing additional references from September 2017
• All articles needing additional references
• Articles with unsourced statements from February 2022
• CS1: long volume value