six-pointed star?

Question

Not sure where to post this one...

I'm an English teacher in France and working on Northern Ireland with my students, and more specifically murals in Northern Ireland.

I've found quite a lot of pictures of murals with 6-pointed stars.

Am I right in thinking it represents the 6 counties of Northern Ireland?
Or am I completely off the point?

Yes, I know about the Star of David, but I'm talking about murals in Northern Ireland, Loyalist murals.
I thought they were supposed to be Protestant, not Jewish?
So I was looking for another explanation, something to do with Ireland?

Most of the time, the 6-pointed star has a red fist painted on it, too. That would be a reference to the Red Hand Commando, if I'm not mistaken...

Thanks, andyg77!
I knew the story, but I didn't remember the name of the lady. Pity, isn't it? ;-)

But what is the link between masons and loyalists?

Answer 1

Having done a few tours of NI. The six-pointed star represents the six counties of Ulster that make up Northern Ireland. So you are absolutely correct.

If you look at the link below you will see that I am right.

Answer 2

Unfortunately steveh is wrong. The six pointed star is part of masonic symbolics. It is not actually a six-pointed star. It is two interlinked equilateral triangles. The loyalist culture is tied up with the Loyal Orange Order and the Royal Black Perceptory, one leads to membership of the other and both are heavily intermingled into Freemasonry. Thus the mason symbols are used all over the place, especially in the murals, the banners and in the 'arches' put up in nearly every town and village during the year.
The Red Hand is the traditional symbol of Ulster (the nine counties) and now usually represents the six counties of Northern Ireland. It is also the UK symbol for a barony.

Answer 3

The more obscure meaning relates to an ancient pagan god known as the Star of Remphan. More commonly, the six pointed star represents the Star or Shield of David. Edit: to those that are saying the pentagram are evil, you're wrong. and an 'upside down pentagram' does not denote witchcraft, it can be seen as satanic, but not always, just by satanists.... Just a regular pentagram does not mean ANYTHING evil, it stands for the 4 elements, water, earth, fire, and air, or the four directions, north, south, east, and west, and the top point stands for spirit or God(dess). do you see anything evil in that? geez people, get it straight...

Answer 4

The United States originally considered six pointed stars for our flag. This was done on the basis that they were easy to cut from cloth. However, Betsy Ross knew a trick or two and one of them was an easy way to cut a five pointed star from cloth. Since she was making the flag we got the five pointed one. Every one liked the idea too.

I know this doesn't really answer your question but I remembered the story from grade school and wanted to share it.

Answer 5

The six pointed star also represents; Above and Below, Microcosm and Macrocosm, heaven and earth

From the emerald tablet, thought to be the original 'philosophers stone'

Answer 6

I think the six pointed star represents the Star of David in the Jewish religion.

Answer 7

6 pointed star is the star of david. Possibly religious connections?

Answer 8

The red hand is used by various Loyalist paramilitaries, UDA for example.