Meet the O'Neills . . . and their blood red hand

The O'Neill coat-of-arms featuring
the bloody red hand of Ulster
legend.

Fancy a bloody coat-of-arms tale to keep you up at night? The O'Neill coat-of-arms is one of the darker and bloodier Irish heraldry stories.

Known as the Red Hand of Ulster, and featured on that county coat-of-arms, the red hand symbol is also part of the O'Neill family crest. Here's how Wikipedia explains the legend(s) of the red hand,

"According to one myth, the kingdom of Ulster had at one time no rightful heir. Because of this it was agreed that a boat race should take place and that 'whosoever's hand is the first to touch the shore of Ireland, so shall he be made the king.' 

"One potential king so desired the kingship that, upon seeing that he was losing the race, he cut off his hand and threw it to the shore—thus winning the kingship. The hand is most likely red to represent the fact that it would have been covered in blood. According to some versions of the story, the king who cut off his hand belonged to the Uí Néill clan, which apparently explains its association with them. Another variation of this story concludes that it was none other than Niall of the Nine Hostages who severed his own hand in order to win his crown from his brother. 

"A different myth tells of two giants who engaged in battle. One had his hand cut off by the other, and a red imprint of the hand was left on the rocks."

Either way, it's a chilling chapter in a very long and noble family history. Read more O'Neill coat-of-arms information here.