2006-08-28 02:16:50 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
The device, originally part of the heraldic bearings of the O'Neills, incorporated into the arms of Ulster, usually dexter but also sinister. Right or left.
An ancient folktale about 2 chieftains who were racing their boats to establish ownership of the rich lands of Ulster. They had agreed whoever touched the beach first could claim all the territory. The O'Neill, seeing that his rival was winning, cut off his hand at the wrist and tossed it onto the sand. According to the rules he was granted ownership. the story would suggest the bloodied representation should be the left hand.
2006-08-28 02:24:55 · answer #1 · answered by Deborah Mc 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The myth of the Red Hand of Ulster goes like this:
Heremon O'Neill racing a rival chieftain for possession of Ireland became the first man to touch its soil by cutting off his own hand and hurling it ashore!
His sacrifice made Heremon the first king of Ulster.
Even though the story has never been verified -- and there is significant evidence it is a myth -- the Red Hand of Ulster is still used in the flags of Northern Irleland Ulster.
2006-08-28 09:26:59 · answer #2 · answered by johntadams3 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Red Hand originates from a silly legend concerning two giants who decided (for whatever reason) to have a swimming race across the Irish Sea to Northern Ireland. One of the giants was losing and quick-wittedly decided to chop off his hand and throw it towards the shore ahead of the winning giant and so secure his victory.
This quite rational plan was an enormous success, so much so that the symolisation of this hand appears on numerous flags
and so on.
P.S. The poster below clearly knows much more about this subject than I do! Hmm, I think the giants became mixed up in my mind with the reputed origins of the Giant's Causeway and the Isle of Mann.
2006-08-28 09:25:59 · answer #3 · answered by Here's Danny 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
the emblem of the 9 counties of ulster in ireland,
2006-08-28 09:23:36 · answer #4 · answered by nuclear farter 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Refusal by a backbone bunch of loyalists and unionists in the six counties to break from union with Great Britain.
2006-08-28 09:21:41 · answer #5 · answered by ghostsqaud 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Irish power
x x x
2006-08-28 09:18:13 · answer #6 · answered by pa1mcd 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
isn't it the national flag of northern ireland
2006-08-28 09:19:45 · answer #7 · answered by Chris 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
a unionist sectarian flag.
2006-08-28 09:22:31 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋