WHY THE NAME RED HAND?
RED HAND BREWING
The short explanation is, the Red hand of Ulster is featured on our Family’s Coat of Arms. There are only a handful of families that can use the Red Hand of Ulster.
The surname Donnelly was first found in County Donegal. Later, the family expanded eastward and became based at Ballydonnelly in the county of Tyrone.
The name is directly descended from King Niall of the Nine Hostages, the great Irish general/king who died by the River Seine in France about 365 A.D., after soundly defeating the Romans and being instrumental in their return to the south.
The Donnelly chief was always elected Chief Marshall of the O'Neill forces and their exploits have filled the pages of Irish history compiled by the Four Masters.
They are seventeenth in descent from the great King Niall, and their territories are at Ballydonnelly and Dungannon in County Tyrone.
According to Legend, the kingdom of Ulster had at one time no rightful heir. Because of this, it was agreed that swords, spears, archery, and hand-to-hand combat resulted in stalemates. Finally a horse race took place and that "whosoever's hand is the first to touch the shore of Ireland, so shall he be made the king."
Upon seeing that he was losing the race, Niall of the Nine Hostages of the Uí Néill clan cut off his hand and threw it to the shore—thus winning the kingship.
