 The Symbols Of The Provinces Of Ireland
Connacht
The arms of Connacht - an imitated eagle and armed hand - are
recorded as such on a map of Galway dated 1651, now in the Library of
Trinity College, Dublin. These arms are closely related to those of the
Schottenkloster or Irish monastery founded in Regensburg, Bavaria in the
11th century. The question is how did the arms of that Schottenkloster
located deep in the heart of the Roman Empire come to be associated with
the province of Connacht in Ireland?
It is assumed that the arms were acknowledged as
arms of affection to Ruaidhri O' Conchobhair, King of Connacht, his
declining years having been spent in the monastery of Cong, County Mayo,
which itself had links with certain monastic institutions in medieval
imperial Germany.
Munster
For over four hundred years the historic Province of Munster has been
heraldically symbolized by three golden antique crowns on an azure blue
shield. While these arms are on record as appertaining to Munster as early
as the sixteenth century, the motif, that of the antique Irish crown, is
without question considerably older. A thirteenth century crozier head
found near Cashel, County Tipperary, which is delicately crafted in
burnished metal and resting on a blue enamel surface shows similarities
with the antique Irish crown of the Munster motif and is instrumental in
deciphering the origin of the motif. It is believed that the crozier was
translated into an antique crown, which in turn was used as the heraldic
arms of the Province. Triplication of the crowns is for the purpose of
achieving greater balance on the triangular surface of the shield. The
azure colour which the motif rests upon is believed to have it origins in
Gaelic mythology and literature where the sovereignty of Munster was
personified in Mor Murnham - a beautiful lady invariably dressed in
deep blue robes as long as she was wedded to the lawful king of the
Province.
Leinster
A silver stringed golden harp on a green background has long served as the
arms of the province of Leinster. Possibly the oldest and certainly the
most celebrated instance of the use of the harp device on a green field
was the flag of Owen Roe O'Neill who rose to prominence in the Spanish
Service following the defeat of his uncle, the great Hugh O'Neill, at
Kinsale in 1601. In 1642 he returned to Ireland to assist the Irish
Confederation in the war that broke out the previous year. It is recorded
that his ship the St. Francis, as she lay at anchor at Dunkirk,
flew from her mast top 'the Irish harp in a green field in a green flag'.
Because the confederation's headquarters were located in Kilkenny, his
flag must have had a special significance for that province. When Owen Roe
died in 1649 the hopes of the Irish Confederation died with him. His flag
however, lives on to the present day in the form of the heraldic arms of
Leinster
Ulster
The arms of the historic province of Ulster is a combination of the
heraldic symbols of two of that provinces best known families, namely, the
cross of de Burgo and the Red hand of O'Neill.
The de Burgo family of Tonsburg in Normandy were
active participants in the First Crusade (1096-99) and fashioned crosses
in fabric on their apparel before leaving for the Holy Land. When Walter
de Burgo, Lord of Connacht, became Earl of Ulster in 1243 the de Burgo
cross became inseparably linked with Ulster. the red cross and gold field-
was the emblem of the De Burgo family and was used up until 1333 when the
last De Burgo died, up until this time the Earldom of Ulster belonged to
this clan.
The celebrated 'Red Hand', also known as Lámh
Dearg is badge of O' Neill family. There are many different
interpretations of where the Red Hand has its roots, but legend has it
that a direct ancestor of the Irish Gaels swore an oath to his father that
'he would be the first one to lay his hand on Ireland and claim the land
for his own before his brothers!'. However, during the Milasion invasion
of Ireland (6000-5000 B.C.), he was making his way to Ireland and he realized
he was being beaten so to ensure he kept his promise to his father he cut
off his hand, dripping with blood and threw it upon the shore of Ulster.
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