1892-93.] 



513 



favour. Sir Bernard's conclusion is that none of the Celtic 

 records or authorities show that any one colour or banner was 

 adopted in the earlier times for Ireland, while he is equally 

 certain that " since the introduction of the English rule the 

 national colour established by and derived from the national 

 arms has been invariably blue." While on this subject, Mr. 

 Vinycomb referred to the peculiar badge of the baronetcy. 



THE RED HAND. 





Arm^ op Ulster. 



hand of the second {i.e., red) 

 dexter or right hand. 



Sir Bernard Burke, Ulster King-at-Arms, 

 than whom there is no greater authority, 

 in several of his published works on heraldry 

 refers to the arms of the province of Ulster. 

 In his " General Armory" he blazons the 

 arms of Ulster as, Or, on a cross gules an 

 inescutcheon argent charged with a dexter 

 This it will be perceived is a 



One of the most beautiful 

 seals, the only approach to 

 heraldry in Ireland in early 

 times, is that of Hugh O'Neill 

 {circa 1335), King of Ulster, 

 a distinguished soldier. His 

 death is recorded in the 

 "Annalsof the Four Masters;" 

 Hugh O'Neill, the best man 

 of the Irish of his time, died 

 in 1364, having gained the 

 palm for humanity, hospi- 

 tality, valour, and renown. The legend upon the seal is 

 " Sigillum Odonis O'Neill Regis Hybemicorum Ultoniae." 

 " It will be observed," says Sir Bernard Burke, " that the hand, 

 as in other early seals of the family of O'Neill, is a dexter hand? 

 This exquisite seal found its way into the possession of Horace 

 Walpole in the course of last century, having come to him 



