Harp Badge

**O'Callaghan** · 18th February 10, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

No, I knew it was the red hand of the O'Neill's/Ulster. The YCV was an Ulster organization, like the Ulster Volunteer Force, which made up the nucleus of the 36th (Ulster) Division.

The red hand was also used by James Connolly's Irish Citizen Army.

T.

I knew that you would know what it was, but not everybody would.

I freely admit that I didn't know that the red hand was also used by the Irish Citizen Army. OTOH, many different symbols were used in the Easter rising, and few of them are well known today, except for the 'Erin Go Bragh' flag, and that seems to have been based on the Leinster flag, but in a lighter shade of green and with the slogan added. I was also aware of the 'plough' (constellation) flag, though. No doubt you will wind up correcting me about this in some aspect or other!

**macwilkin** · 18th February 10, 09:09 PM

Originally Posted by O'Callaghan

I knew that you would know what it was, but not everybody would.

I freely admit that I didn't know that the red hand was also used by the Irish Citizen Army. OTOH, many different symbols were used in the Easter rising, and few of them are well known today, except for the 'Erin Go Bragh' flag, and that seems to have been based on the Leinster flag, but in a lighter shade of green and with the slogan added. I was also aware of the 'plough' (constellation) flag, though. No doubt you will wind up correcting me about this in some aspect or other!

The Erin Go Bragh flag wasn't used by the Irish Volunteers or the ICA though. As you mentioned, the ICA used the "Starry Plough" flag as its colours, whilst we know that Pearce had a tricolour and a green flag with the words "Irish Republic" raised above the GPO.

The Redmondite National Volunteers did use a green flag, a la the Leinster flag. In fact, some believe the reason why the traditional green flag fell out of favour was because of its association with John Redmond. This was the flag that Lord Kitchener rejected as a colour for the 16th (Irish) Division during WWI.

Both Connolly and Jack White had Ulster connections, so hence their choice of the Red Hand as a badge that pinned up the sides of their Boer slouch hats.

T.