The Story of Niall

Niall.  In it's simplest translation it means "champion", but that hardly describes all that is behind the name we carry on our banner.

In a time before the great King Arthur was even born, a great family held the order.  There are many legendry members to that family, however the best know among them, the one who started the family name of Niall, would be Niall Nóigiallach, or Niall "of the Nine Hostages".  He was the only son of Eochaid Muigh-medon, High King of Ireland, and his wife Carthann who was the daughter of an English King. Eochaid later married Mong-Fionn, daughter of the King of Munster, and had another four sons. These sons were Brian, Fiachra, Ailill, and Fergus.

It is said that Mong-Fionn was jealous of her stepson Niall and wanted her first son, Brian, to succeed Eochaid. She did not rest until she had Niall outcast and his mother Carthann reduced to her servant, carrying water for the Court. But the poet, Torna, who had raised and educated Niall, rescued him from his misery.

Now you must know, at this time in Irish history the power of the poet or bard was second only to the King. As a priveleged class, they could wander freely throughout the land and any person who refused shelter to them was severely punished and his lands deemed cursed.  So Niall returned to the Court and welcomed by his father. One of Niall's first acts was to restore his mother to her rightful place. Niall underwent many tests as a young man as did all five of Eochaid's sons. The High King had to choose an heir and young Niall frequently did extremely well. In one story, the five brothers were helping in a smith's forge learning the art when it suddenly caught fire. The King who just happened to be there (it is believed that he set the fire), told his sons to save what they could. Niall's brothers saved the chariots, a sword, a shield, the forge trough and a bundle of wood. Niall saved the Bellows, sledges, anvil and anvil-block thus saving the smith from disaster. After this test Niall was selected as successor of the Ard-Righ (High King).

During his early reign, Niall consolidated his power at home by subduing his enemies and taking hostages from the royal families in opposition, thus earning the infamous nickname.  The two greatest thing he did as King was first, he consolidated the northern region of Ireland and created a dynasty that kept his descendants High Kings of Ireland for 600 years. Second, his military ability led him to the Irish Control of all of Alba and a large part of Britain. He seriously damaged the Romans ability to control Britain and even managed to carve out some Irish controlled territory in France. It is said this Irish Empire was only eclipsed in size by Dathi's, Niall's nephew and successor.

However, this is far from the only great Niall to rule over these lands.  Niall Glundubh "the Black Knee", living much later than Niall Nóigiallach, also became High King over Ireland.  It is from him that the great O'Niell clan is from.  During his time is when the Hand of Niall came to be the symbol for the Niall family, and was carried to the O'Niells that followed.

As the tale goes, a young Lord of the Nialls was in a great dispute of land with another neighboring lord.  After endless warring between the two, an act that weakened them both, they decided that a contest between them would decide who shall rule the disputed land.  The contest was a race of two great warships, and the first noble to lay hand to the shore would claim the land.  Although his men fought hard to bring the great ship in first, Niall saw that the other lord was leaving his ship and moving to shore; with him to far behind to overtake him.  Rather than bear shame to his family and those that came before him, he drew his sword, cut his own hand off, and threw it to shore before the other lord had reached it, thus claiming the land.

This self sacrifice is embodied in the name Niall.  The symbol of the hand on our shields and cloaks show our dedication to our land, and to one another.  To be a Niall means to be willing to take personnel sacrifice to aid thy brother.  To be thy brother's Champion.