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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.
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