Originally Posted by
SteveB
Strictly speaking, it is a banner, not a flag.
The red cross, it is claimed, comes from the coat of arms of the Burkes, a Hiberno-Norman noble family.
It is not known where the red hand came from.
It is claimed to be from the O'Neill Clan, at one time a prominent clan in Ulster but this is disputed because the banner predates their use of it.
It is also claimed it is Dextra Dei (right hand of God) of early Christian iconography but this is also disputed.
The use of the banner is so old, and there are so few records, no-one knows for sure.