Flag of Ulster - Origin Legend

Origin Legend

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 recounts how Uí Néill 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 Uí Néill cut his hand off and threw it. It reached the goal ahead of Dermott's horse, winning for Uí Néill the crown of Ulster. Ultimately the story derives from Celtic mythology of 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).