"whosoever's hand is the first to touch the shore of Ulster, 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.
Ulster is one of the
four Irish provinces. Its
name derives from the
Irish language Cúige Uladh (pronounced "Kooi-gah UH-loo"), meaning "'fifth' of the
Ulaidh", named for the ancient inhabitants of the region.
The province's early story extends further back than written records and survives mainly in legends such as the
Ulster Cycle.
In early medieval Ireland, the
Uí Néill dynasty displaced the
Ulaid and dominated Ulster from their base in Tír Eóghain, most of which forms modern
County Tyrone. Among the
High Kings of Ireland were
Áed Findliath (died 879),
Niall Glúndub (died 919), and
Domnall ua Néill (died 980), all of the
Cenél nEógain branch of the Uí Néill. Their descendants took the surname Mac Lochlainn (
McLaughlin), ruling the kingdom of
Ailech.
Ulidia had it's own capital - Emain Macha, kings and border (the Black Pigs Dyke) in ancient times. The people were the ancient Cruthin and Ulaid - as recorded by a Greek geographer in the 2nd century A.D. This nation came under attack from Gaelic lead peoples from Ireland. The semi historical / mythical Tain describes this period telling how Ulster people came under attack by peoples from the south in a cattle raid and how Ulster was defended by her ancient hero - Setanta.
Ulster is not to be confused with the English province; it was under Elizabeth the First that the Provinces were drawn up as administrative boundaries. Irish nationalists who refuse to recognise a separate Ulster and proclaim they do not recognise 'British borders in Ireland' will often dishonourably dismiss Ulster as merely an Irish province - recognising a 'British border in Ireland' . Unfortunately a debate by the 'Northern Ireland' parliament in the 1960s to counter this confusion by renaming the country Ulster - it's rightful name - never came to fruition.
Gradually the Ulster capital fell (around 450 A.D.) and Ulster became a much reduced nation as it's border moved eastwards. In fact many of these ancient Ulster people, who the Romans called Scotti, fled across the North Channel and gave this name to Scotland. It was these peoples who had absorbed Gaelic from their overlords that gave Scotland this language.
In 637 the Ulstermen / Ulidians were defeated at the battle of Moira, and although they retained independence in the east of Ulster, this was the end of ancient Ulster.
Ulster?
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Originally Posted by Celtichugs123
Thats why I put down the History.
Whats wrong with it?
