The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE RED HAND OF THE O'NEILLS

A LONG TIME AGO, THE KING OF IRELAND DIED. SO THE CITIZENS
HAD TO FIND A NEW KING. APPARENTLY, THE SUCCESSOR WAS
IN DISPUTE BETWEEN TWO MEN, ONE OF THEM A NOBLE NAMED
O'NEILL. THE PEOPLE DEVISED A RACE, WHERE THE FIRST
MAN TO CROSS A BODY OF WATER WOULD BECOME KING. THE RACE
BEGAN, BUT HUGE WAVES PREVENTED THEM FROM LANDING. THE
FUTURE KING WOULD HAVE TO TOUCH THE SHORE TO BECOME KING.
THE O'NEILL BEING THE CLEVER MAN, REALIZED HE NEEDED HIS
RIGHT HAND TO RULE. SO HE TOOK A SWORD AND CUT OFF HIS
LEFT HAND AND THREW IT ON THE SHORE. THUS HE WAS THE
FIRST MAN TO TOUCH SHORE AND BECAME KING. THE RED HAND
OF THE O'NEILLS CAN STILL BE SEEN ON THE FAMILY COAT OF
ARMS.

Submitter comment: THE O'NEILLS RULED IN ULSTER AND LIMERICK. THE COAT
OF ARMS OF ULSTER HAS THE RED HAND OF THE ONEILLS ON IT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Date learned: 12-08-1972