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Odds n' Ends..! |
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The 'Red Hand' ('Lamh Dearg') is one of the strongest Irish-Celtic symbols in the world, and heavily enshrined in Irish history. Legend has it that
the 'father' of the Irish Gaels (Eremon - son of Golamh Mile Espain) at the start of the Milesian Invasion of Ireland (around 5000-6000BC)
swore an oath to his father that `he would be first ashore and claim the land for his own before his brothers'.
However, approaching the shore
he saw he was going to be beaten, so he cut off his hand and threw it onto the shore so as to be the first to touch the shore. So he won the
contest, albeit a little light handed.
From this came the `Red Hand', the emblem of Ulster's identity. As an ancient and powerful Gaelic symbol, it is a symbol exclusive to the people of
Ulster. After this it became a symbol of the various Celtic Kings through history, representing a symbol of hope and friendship.
In or around
1334-1364 it was adopted by the legendary Irish king Aedh Ui Neill and became widely used as their official seal. Today it is the official emblem
of the county of Tyrone and is also the family crest of the O'Neill family, as well as used in the centre of the official flag of Ulster. Of
course, the coat of arms of the O'Neill family shows this RIGHT hand as an integral part of their family coat of arms.
This legend is what we would term an ancient version of today's modern 'Urban Myth', as it crops up again and again often with different names,
but it has a lot going for it as a story. Now here's the confusion.
When King James 1st instigated the Order of Baronets of Ulster it was not
specified which hand (left or right) was to be used as the badge of the new order, and most eligible families used the LEFT hand on their crest.
So, for a Baronetcy crest the hand is shown as the LEFT hand, but for the badge of Ulster province the hand used is the RIGHT hand.
What is interesting of course is that it would make sense (if it can be said that cutting off your hand makes any sense) to cut off your LEFT
hand - most warriors were right handed and it would not pay to cut off your sword hand. It's all a bit confusing though, as the spiritual
message of the RIGHT hand of the Red Hand of Ulster proclaims: `For God and Ulster - and In God Our Trust'. The final word:
'The Red Hand of Ulster's a paradox quite,
To Baronets 'tis said to belong:
If they use the left hand, they're sure to be right,
And to use the right hand would be wrong.
For the Province, a different custom applies,
And just the reverse is the rule:
If you use the right hand you'll be right, safe and wise,
If you use the left hand you're a fool.'
From: 'The Rules of the Road' (Anon)
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