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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Red Hand of Ulster
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The badge of the province of Ulster and of the O'Neill family, in the form of a right hand cut off at the wrist (other organizations in Ulster use the left hand). There is an early legend – of no historical validity, and appearing also as a story in other places – that the origin is an occasion when territory on the other side of a stretch of water was promised to whoever could first place a hand upon it; the O'Neill chieftain's boat was trailing in the race, so he cut off his hand and flung it ahead to win the contest.
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