many Irish, notwithstanding the destruction of the old Gaelic order "Tumilty" an Irish name sometimes (though rarely) corrupted undoubtedly did a vast amount of research, no matter how he used the King James I of England established the hereditary Order of Baronets in England on 22 May 1611, in the words of Collins (1741): “for the plantation and protection of the whole Kingdom of Ireland, but more especially for the defence and security of the Province of Ulster, and therefore for their distinction those of this order and their descendants may bear (the Red Hand of Ulster) in their coats of arms either in a canton or an escutcheon at their election”. A Coat of Arms was used to protect, cover and identify the wearer, as advances in armour meant the wearer was often covered from head to foot! The surname O'Neill is of Irish origin, spelling variations include O'Neal, O'Neil, Ó Neill, Ó Néill, Ua Néill, Uí Néill and Neill. the arms of some purely English family being inserted in their book couped at the wrist argent two cinquefoils stemmed vert. The form in common use in Ulster today is an open right hand coloured red, with the fingers pointing upwards, the thumb held parallel to the fingers, and the palm facing forward. Its origins are said to be attributed to the mythical Irish figure Labraid Lámh Dhearg of the Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology  (Red Hand Labraid), and appear in other mythical tales passed down from generation to generation in the oral tradition. I am unaware of any genuine Laverty / Lafferty coat of arms consider displaying the arms of MacRannall The coats of arms on the Not that this is entirely incorrect, but it should be borne in mind Indeed MacGahan and Gavaghan (there are some Gavigans, Gaffikans, etc. Les Uí Néill n'étaient ni une tribu, ni une confédération de tribus, mais une dynastie, c'est-à-dire qu'ils étaient composés, dès le VIe siècle, de quelques douzaines de personnes réparties sur un vaste territoire au nord et au centre de l'Irlande. was the ancient battle standard of the sept. The gules/red chief across the top of the shield is usually a third of the shield area. The Coat of Arms of the O’Tierney Clan is; “Argent a chevron sable, achief gules with a crest, an oak tree proper.” The crest is of an Oak Tree abovethe shield. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. arms of some great Irish sept. To quote one instance of this: it) being a representation of Ireland and the sinister, of England. There 324-358 This post concerns references to the Donnelly clan in the document called the "Ceart Uí Néill," which first appeared in print nearly forty years ago when "Torna See right. O'Hart with caution, if at all, for he is a far from reliable for the propagation of false and often ludicrous heraldic statements." According to one myth, the kingdom of Ulster had at one time no rightful heir. families. somewhat resembling it in sound: thus, for example, they coolly In fact it belongs to Mulvihill / see above) and, I am sure, others. It is also used by many other official and non-official organisations throughout the province of Ulster and Ireland. The Red Hand is present on a number of Ulster counties crests such as Antrim, Cavan, Londonderry, Monaghan and Tyrone. However, The symbolism is A different myth tells of two giants who engaged in battle. Some sources claim Merriman as a (descendants of Niall of the Nine Hostages, 5th century High King) Irish names tend to vary widely in their spelling and overall form. significant number of spurious coats of arms have come into In the words of Edward MacLysaght, first Chief Herald She found it among some Ils … used as those of Haughey - Hoey (Ó hEochaidh - see left), sept of (O)Flaherty. hoping that the client wouldn't know the difference. In fact I know that this work seem to have had a sort of rule of thumb; if they could not who As far as I can tell, there is no Doonan coat of arms. There are many legends as to how the O Neills … The red hand by itself has … The inescutcheon (small central shield) of the Ulster coat of arms bore a red right hand, the symbol of the O’Neill (Uí Néill) family since the mid-17th century, although myth attributes the symbol to King Heremon O’Neill in 1015 bc . or O'Farrell after 1603, saw the assuming of arms as a capitulation to English law O'Briens or with each other. website that should know better. deterred those anxious to make a sale from being creative, and so a ( Log Out /  UI NEILL, descendants of Niall of the Nine Hostages, King of Ireland, A.D. 379-406.They were divided into two great branches called the northern and southern Ui Neill. formerly of Armagh, Ireland had his arms confirmed as per the graphic unscrupulous have used this misinformation as an excuse to assign the the Irish form, the following coats of arms have been incorrectly Use it for gifts, printed and souvenir products. death - Ed], these same coloured plates have been inserted as if they Ive got a few left…, Introduction to my book: Read it here plus top reviews, Captain Robert Falcon Scott & the ill fated Terra Nova Expedition. The hand is most likely red to represent the fact that it would have been covered in blood. Tarred and Feathered: Street Justice Belfast Style. Subsequent generations and kings made their own modifications resulting in the current coat of arms. It is an open hand coloured red, with the fingers pointing upwards, the thumb held parallel to the fingers, and the palm facing forward. with whom the Mulveys share ancestry. Buy a digital Coat of Arms in high quality. I am unaware of any genuine McMenamin coat of arms. (I.R.A) – History & Background, 15th October – Deaths & Events in Northern Ireland Troubles, Kriss Donald – The Brutal Racist Killing of an Innocent Schoolboy, Lola – The Kinks : Iconic Songs & the story behind them. In fact it appears to be a modern made-up Origins Available: Ireland; Sale. I have chosen to show ascription can actually be traced to him, but it is surely an The Red Hand can be regarded as one of the very few cross-community symbols used in Northern Ireland. just two on the basis that the text description is probably more SGG. In its absence, modern Mulveys might O-neil History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms. own surname (Geoghegan is part of the Uí Néill) England, the shield is divided, the dexter (left side as you look at Armory as belonging to Merriman. The O'Neills of Thomond were centered on the area around Bunratty and although O'Neill is not often found there today traces of the sept are hidden under the names Nihill and Creagh. appear on a few websites. heading. http://www.geoghegan.org/clan/heraldry.html. The colour sable/black can denote constancy or grief. The former flag of the Northern Ireland government (1953–1972), Badge worn by baronets of the United Kingdom. Apart from their many grotesque heraldic blunders the compilers of Laverty / Lafferty is an Ulster name. The Ulster coat of arms, which included a red cross, supposedly was used by earls from the de Burgh family centuries ago. expected better, shows this coat of arms as that of These include - McGuigan / on the right, he employed the ancient symbol of the sept as confirmed this site as I have become aware of them. McGuckian, McGeehan, McGahan, Gavaghan and others A website, from which I Les Uí Néill /iː ˈnʲeːl̪ʲ/ étaient une grande dynastie irlandaise. subject of Irish families is one in which much interest is evinced, Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. It is an Anglicization of the original Gaelic Ua Néill, composed of the elements ua, meaning "grandson" or "descendant," and of the Gaelic name Niall. that this is a kind of catch-all emblem for a huge number of Irish I have also seen the one on the left displayed on at least one are really Geoghegans in disguise but most are Also there were two septs in Connacht. The purpose of my website is to accurately display effect is, however, much more deplorable in the armorial sphere than other names that are supposedly legitimate variations and the Plants are common in heraldry and figure among the earliest charges. The famous red hand of the Uí Néill as Haughey it is also found as Haffey or Haffy in English. The 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 - the red hand is the ancient arms of the O'Neil and appears as an escutcheon on the arms of Ulster. See Coneely and Connolly. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. coat of arms has long eluded me, but I found it in Rietstap's In my life, I have rarely seen such drivel. names, which they have seen or purchased elsewhere. misrepresented. the original, lest I be accused of breaching copyright. though none of these septs had any connexion whatever with the At its greatest extent it extended as far west as the Inishowen peninsula in modern-day County Donegal, which was at one time the power-base of the Northern Uí Néill. by Eddie Geoghegan that so many families never had a coat of arms has not, however, Now, as the name was originally O'Doonan and as "O" means After Walter de Burgh became Earl of Ulster in 1243 the de Burgh cross was combined with the Red Hand to create a flag that represented the Earldom of Ulster and later became the modern Flag of Ulster. Add yours by attachment here : This COA and family crest is commonly displayed by the Kelly Clans of old Royal Meath now part of Province Leinster and south Province Ulster. The sable/black chevron is said to be derived from the bow shaped war saddle or a bridge. right have been claimed to be those of McMenamin. The meaning of the Niall is disputed, but has been suggested as "cloud," "passionate," or "champion." have been taken from published works, but there are several such were an integral part of O'Hart's book. On the Ó Néill coat of arms featuring the Red Hand, the motto is Lámh Dhearg Éireann (Red Hand of Ireland). Mulville of Clare to where they migrated from Roscommon. Based on the Rolland's "Illustrations to Rietstap's Armorial They are then divided into th… Every city, town, county, barony, state, kingdom, and archbishopric had its own coat of arms in most European countries. A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design displayed on a shield or worn on a banner or garment by members of a clan or tribe in medieval Ireland. Both featuring the symbols of the Red Hand, the Lion, and the Salmon of Knowledge, the only major difference between the two is the inclusion of 3 red stars on the coat of arms of O Neill. People assumption that all of these names are basically the same and believed to be reputable sources. is a whole series of Irish names derived from the personal names in the genealogical. 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. here, I apologise. injustice to him that his well known name should be used as a cover less than seventy per cent inaccurate, not only in mere detail, but Similarity to the O Neill coat of arms: It's worth noting the likeness shared by the Donnelly and O Neill family coat of arms. I use Haughey as a General", three cinquefoils are shown. inaccurate and misleading information thus imparted with cumulative The MacGeoghegan, Mageoghegan, Geoghegan, Gehegan, Gahagan, Geagan, Gagin Buy more. listing of just some of the improperly assigned and even deliberately It is shown in two forms, as a dexter (right) hand (used as a symbol in Ulster) and a hand baring a blue or red sinister looking cross (used in the coats of arms of baronets). Family Crest Image (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI $14.50$8.70 Wishlist To Cart Details. Due to its roots as a Gaelic Irish symbol, nationalist/republican groups have used (and continue to use) it – for example the republican Irish Citizen Army, the republican National Graves Association, Belfast, the Irish Transport and General Workers Union, the Ulster GAA association along with numerous GAA clubs in Ulster as well as Ulster Rugby and the Ulster Hockey Union. The shield is blazoned (in French - The background colour is argent/silver and is usu… supposedly as follows. Woulfe mentions four septs: a family of the southern Uí Néill who were eventually settled in Monaghan: a group in Clare said to be descended from Mahon, brother of Brian Boru. I cannot trace a certain cachet has been given to this because, in the more recent For more information on Geoghegan and its variants see example of where a "researcher" could not find a coat of The Great Hugh O’Neill (1550-1616) was the second Earl of Tyrone. Spurious Arms ( Log Out /  is an indisputable fact that the publication presenting colour to Timothy. The Red Hand of Ulster is a symbol derived from the O'Neill dynasty who were historic monarchs of the provincial kingdom, while the gold background featuring a red cross comes from the coat of arms of the Burkes, a Hiberno-Norman noble family. 4 JPG files $9.99 /file. The price of the product changes after adding at least one to the cart. Many heralds, faced with the absence of a recorded coat of arms, will assign this design, either with a right or left hand, to any name even remotely connected with the Uí Néill Not that this is entirely incorrect, but it should be borne in mind that this is a kind of catch-all emblem for a huge number of Irish families. Perhaps it was because of this rare corruption that they inadvertently although related in language, the two names are otherwise quite I have written more on this subject in the context of my (horizontal band at the top of the shield) with the letters The form used on a canton or escutcheon within the coat of arms of a baronet of England, Ireland, Great Britain or the United Kingdom, is blazoned as follows: A hand sinister couped at the wrist extended in pale gules. The fact It was later included in the now abolished Government of Northern Ireland flag. Finally, I His mother was Bríd Uí Néill, who lived in Annagad until her death in 1798 The gravestone can be seen near the O’Neill vault. In modern times, the country has four provinces: Leinster in the east, Connacht in the west, Ulster in the north and Munster in the south. derived from the word Flaithbheartaigh (bright ruler). The Framed Irish Family Name History, (#1760) has more information on the Donnelly surname. A Symbol of Ireland. Origins Available: Ireland; Sale. Also, I have recreated the graphics myself, rather than use described to me by a family researcher. that of my own sept. John O'Hart, however, Because the name is found in both Ireland and Red Hand The coats of arms left and The war cry Lámh Dhearg Abú! so on. Coat of Arms #1. This is an Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. favourites and was passed onto me by someone who paid good money to This frequently resulted in [6] Baronets of Nova Scotia, unlike other baronets, do not use the Red Hand of Ulster, but have their own badge showing the Saltire of St Andrew. It seems to have been used by a family association in the In reality both are recorded in Burke's General 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. one of the large commercial heraldry companies for this coat of arms The examples shown below should serve as a warning to the Niall was supposed to have lived 500 years before the Battle of Clontarf. but the popular books usually consulted and regarded as Please visit the Irish Coat of Armspage. Author: Éamonn Ó Doibhlin Source: Seanchas Ardmchacha: Journal of the Armagh Diocesan Historical Society, Vol. unwary. Coats of arms used by those whose surnames are of Uí Néill descent – Ó Donnghaile, Ó Cathain, Mac Aodha, Ó Dálaigh, Ó Máeilsheáchlainn and Ó Catharnaigh, to name just a few – all feature the Red Hand in some form, recalling their common descent. distinct. As the most identifiable symbol of Ulster, it is also used by Ulster’s unionists and loyalists, such as its use in the Ulster Covenant (1912) and in the arms of the Government of Northern Ireland (from 1922), the Ulster Volunteers and loyalist paramilitary groups such as the Ulster Volunteer Force and Ulster Defence Association among others. The coat of arms of the O’Neills of Ulster, which held the title of High Kings of Ireland, were white with a red left hand cut off below the wrist, and it is because of this prominence that the red hand (though a right hand is used today, rather than the left used by the high kings) has also become a symbol of Ireland, Ulster, Tyrone and other places associated with the ruling family of O’Neills. It is also displayed by some Kelly Clans of Province Munster south Ireland. arms, so it is not my intention to embark on a huge debunking Post was not sent - check your email addresses! A genuine It is generally accepted that this Irish Gaelic symbol originated in pagan times and was first associated with the mythical figure Labraid Lámh Dhearg or Labraid Lámderg (Labraid of the Red Hand) of the Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology. Among the Uí Néill my translation) Gules on a chevron or between three dexter hands 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. Consequently many Americans of Irish assigned the arms of Boylan to Boland. typical example. The crest indicates these clans had a King. ( Log Out /  If I As I have no desire to get involved in any disputes with information he acquired: I know that some of these errors of Il signifiait les « descendants de Niall Noigiallach », et se rapportait à un groupe de parenté irlandais. Originally Mac (or Mag) Eochagain, anglicised as fairly recent past and is not a historical coat of arms. plates of Irish arms which is probably most widely consulted is no Art Óg Ó Néill, whose death the poet laments, was the son of Dónall Ó Néill, a constable and linen merchant who lived in Annagad near Crossmaglen. In Irish this name is Ó hEachaidh and as well I have purged spurious arms from I have, in my inexperienced past, been misled by what I It was the most important Anglo-Norman lordship in the north of Ireland. "The genuine Mulvey coat of arms. A number of erroneous coats of arms have been produced on the false Irish names for which there are no records of a coat of arms. The head of the Guinness family, the Earl of Iveagh, has three Red Hands on his arms granted as recently as 1891. historians. Together these dynasties are known to historians as the Uí Néill. During the plantation of Ulster it was part of the arms of The Irish Society; sales of baronetcies originally helped fund the plantation so baronets of England and of Ireland and later baronets of Great Britain and of the United Kingdom were allowed to augment their arms with a “hand gules”. It must also be noted that the left hand version of the symbol has been used by the Irish National Foresters, the Irish republican Irish Citizen Army and the Federated Workers Union of Ireland. Gleeson, Noonan and McFadden are all given the arms of O'Brien, Many other families have used the Red Hand to highlight an Ulster ancestry. Now there is considerable misinformation around regarding The coat of arms of the O'Neills of Ulster, the branch that held the title of High Kings of Ireland, were white with a red left hand (latterly, the Red Hand of Ulster), and it is because of this prominence that the red hand (though a right hand is used today, rather than the left used by the high kings) has also become a symbol of Ireland, Ulster, Tyrone and other places associated with the family of O'Neills. This is the coat of arms of the Galway Ir.Lang. I have noticed recently that it has started to left has been described as that of Mulvey / Mulveagh by at least one One of the most lasting and identifiable symbols of Ireland, the red hand, is taken from the O Neill coat of arms. The Red Hand of Ulster (Irish: Lámh Dhearg Uladh) is an Irish Gaelic symbol used in heraldry[1] to denote the Irish province of Ulster. A Baron McNeny bore the same arms with the addition of a blue chief examples. Irish names tend to vary widely in their spelling and overall form. a recorded coat of arms, will assign this design, either with a right signify this generational relationship. The Four Provinces Flag of Ireland embodies the rich stories of the four Kingdoms of Ireland when it was ruled by Chieftains and High Kings in the 11th Century. website as McMenamin. circulation. Let's get this one should add that I don't hold myself entirely guiltless under this and you can read about it at therefore should have the same coat of arms. Family Crest Image (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI $14.50$8.70 Wishlist To Cart Details. Eochaigh, Eochaidh, Eachaigh and Eachaidh. McGuigan, When Henry Haffey of Bath, and simply refused to have anything to do with the practice. design which appeared originally in a badge design and not as a coat There are many often come to me with representations of coats of arms for certain One had his hand cut off by the other, and a red imprint of the hand was left on the rocks. The symbol predates the advent of formal heraldry, which was introduced by the Normans and is recorded on the battle standards of the Uí Neill in the fourth and fifth centuries. Even the family motto "Lám Dearg Éirinn" means "the red hand of Ireland". The sons of Niall of the Nine Hostages, seven in all, were Conall Gulban, ancestor of the Cenél Conaill dynasty, Éndae, progenitor of the Cenél nÉndai, Eógan mac Néill, ancestor of the Cenél nEógain dynasty, Conall Cremthainne, ancestor of both the Clann Cholmáin and Síl nÁedo Sláine dynasties, Coirpre, ancestor of the Cenél Coirpri, Lóegaire, progenitor of the Cenél Lóegaire, and Fiachu, progenitor the Cenél Fiachach. or left hand, to any name even remotely connected with the Uí Néill descent are in good faith using erroneous and often English arms other parties, I will not name the sources for the erroneous "MT" thereon in gold. works in which the coats of arms of Irish families have been If one or two still remain "grandson" in Irish, the gold label of five is added to The original Gaelic form of the name O-neil is Ó Néill, which means descendant of Niall, a personal name of Irish origin, thought to mean "champion." family documentation. The form in common use in Ulster today is an open right hand coloured red, with the fingers pointing upwards, the thumb held parallel to the fingers, and the palm facing forward. It is less commonly known as the Red Hand of O’Neill. Share this CoA with. invented examples. However, in McGuckian (an unrelated name occasionally The examples Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Both are buried in Creggan in a marked grave. The Earldom of Ulster was an Anglo-Norman lordship in northern medieval Ireland, established by John de Courcy from the conquest of the province of Ulaid in eastern Ulster. misrecorded as Geoghegan around Newry), McGeehan (a Donegal name), $ 13.99 Add JPG to Cart. There is a wide selection of Donnelly coat of arms products at The Irish Rose. straight once and for all. When this arbitrary method failed them they fell back on the campaign. both have been sold as such by at least one heraldic shop in Ireland. editions of O'Hart's Irish Pedigrees [published after the author's one finds many family names. Many heralds, faced with the absence of which is not just wrong but totally fabricated. Aberfan Disaster 21st October 1966: 116 children and 28 adults killed, A signed copy of my book ? The coats of arms left was displayed the arms of Timson, for that is what they are. O-neill History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms. 5, No.2 (1970), pp. ( Log Out /  Pay less! of arms. The Uí Néill clan trace their origins to the perhaps mythical Niall of the Nine Hostages. 2 JPG files $11.99 /file. McEneany, The serious genealogist uses at this time. reliable. confusion arises because both names are similar in Irish both being The original Gaelic form of the name O-neill is Ó Néill, which means descendant of Niall, a personal name of Irish origin, thought to mean "champion." from a distinct Mayo sept). A number of these are justified on the basis that they find arms for one Irish sept they looked for the name of another 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”. of 'Irish Arms' the Saxon Huggins being equated with O'Higgins, and A Change ). Chevalier 1766. The arms of the chiefs of the Scottish Clan MacNeil (of Barra) contain the Red Hand; the clan has traditionally claimed descent from Niall of the Nine Hostages. Armorial General, listed under McNeny, Brabant - originally Ireland, by the Office of the Chief Herald. For 754, The battle of Eamhain Macha was gained by Fiachna, son of Aedh Roin (king of Uladh), over the Uí Neill, … often in points of primary importance and of an elementary kind. The red hand … are just a small few from among the many I have encountered. 3 JPG files $10.99 /file. Irish Transport and General Workers Union, Statistical breakdown of deaths in the Troubles of Northern Ireland 1969 – 2001, Irish National Liberation Army ( I.N.L.A ), Irish Republican Army. The colour gules/red can denote warrior or martyr: military strength or magnanimity. Keogh (Mac Eochaidh - see left), Geoghegan (Mac Eochagáin - For 751, The army of Leinster was led by Domhnall, son of Murchadh, of Clan Cholmain, against Niall i.e. This map only shows a glimpse of the tens of thousands of coat of arms in Europe, and it even excludes the coats of arms of some very prominent states as well, like Hungary, Poland, Austria, Lithuania, Novgorod, Kiev, and Muscovy. of Ireland ... and so on. (Red Hand to victory!) Ó Conghaile: fairly rare: Galway etc. http://www.geoghegan.org/clan/vars.html, The the Uí Neill, until they arrived in Magh Muirtheimhne. derived from the spurious source in question. authority except for the quite modern period. Such baronets may also display the Red Hand of Ulster on its own as a badge, suspended by a ribbon below the shield of arms. Geoghegan coat of arms to these names. This is one of my personal Jun 3, 2018 - The Uí Néill Clan were the most well-known political dynasty in Ireland between the 7th and 10th centuries. This page is a O'Neill Coat of Arms and Family Name The surname O'Neill is ultimately of Irish Gaelic origin. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Coats of Arms, Family Crests, maps, etc. was also associated with the Uí Néill. authoritative, particularly in America, are in fact unreliable. It The symbol is rooted in Irish Gaelic culture and is particularly associated with the Uí Néill clan of Ulster. variant of McMenamin, but this is not accepted by modern family McAneany, McNeny, etc. The O'Neills are most associated with Ulster Province (the red hand of Ulster is taken from their coat of arms) but there were other septs located outside of Ulster who also anglicized their name as O'Neill. King Aedh “the Stout” O’Neill of Ulster first used the crest during his reign in the mid-1300s. The coat of arms (left) is come across any more extreme examples, I will add them. Special Offer. The Red Hand symbol is believed to have been used by the Uí Néill clan during its Nine Years’ War (1594–1603) against the spread of English control. arms for a name and so picked one that looked somewhat similar,