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The Flag of Ulster, one of the four provinces of Ireland, consists of a red cross on a golden field (from the arms of Norman coloniser, John de Courcy), charged with a white shield and the red hand. The red hand is from the arms of the O Neill (Ua Néill, later Ó Néill) Kings of Ailech and Tír Eoghan.

Contents 1 The Uí Néill 2 Origin legend 3 Present forms and uses 4 Notes

The term Uí Néill denotes "grandsons/descendants of Niall", the ancestor noted being Niall of the Nine Hostages (Niall Noigíallach), a 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 till 1607.

Coats of arms used by individuals bearing surnames of families of Uí Néill descent - Ó Cathain (now Keane), Ó Maelsechlainn (now McLoughlin), Mac Loughlin (now McLaughlin), Ó Catharnaigh of Donegal (now Kearney) and Ó Neill/O'Neill, to name just a few - all feature the red hand in some manner, recalling their common descent.

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^[1] recounts how Ui Neill 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 Ui Neill cut his hand off and threw it. It reached the goal ahead of Dermott's horse, winning for Ui Neill the crown of Ulster. Ultimately, the story derives from Celtic mythology, viz. 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).

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

The "Ulster Banner", the flag of the former Government of Northern Ireland, is based on this flag.

1. ^ http://www.arthurmckeown.com/redhand.htm