From Ripley's Believe It or Not (1953):

The strangest victory in all history!

Heremon O'Neill racing a rival chieftain for possession of Ireland became the first man to touch its soil by cutting off his own hand and hurling it ashore!

His sacrifice made Heremon the first king of Ulster! 1015 B.C.

The RED HAND OF ULSTER is still the province's coat of arms 2,968 years later!

That makes for an interesting tale, but is there any truth to it?

No, say historians. More likely the Red Hand of Ulster has its origins in a Biblical reference to the right hand being symbolic of God's power and authority. Interestingly, the Ripley cartoon shows Heremon O'Neil throwing his right hand ashore, though the legend usually says O'Neill cut off his left hand. Ripley's version fits the coat of arms that displays a right hand.

The Red Hand of Ulster may be traced to Psalm 98:1
xxxxxxxxxO Sing unto the Lord a new song;
xxxxxxxxxFor he hath done marvellous things:
xxxxxxxxxHis right hand and his holy arm,
xxxxxxxxxHath gotten him the Victory
 
Also, The Children of Israel in their passage through the Red Sea gave the power and glory for their deliverance to the Right Hand of God:
xxxxxxxxxThy Right Hand, O Lord, is become Glorious
xxxxxxxxxIn power : Thy Right Hand, O Lord, hath
xxxxxxxxxDashed in pieces the enemy.
xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxExodus 15:6

We prefer the bloody hand legend. Maybe Mel Gibson will turn it into a movie.

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