Hugh "the Fat" O'Neill, King of Ulster & Tyrone

Aodh (or Hugh) Reamhar ("Fat Hugh") was King of Cineal Eoghain from 1345 until his death in 1364. He was succeeded at his death as King by his son (and my 18th great-grandfather), Niall Mor O'Neill. Aodh was listed the first of fourteen Irish princes to be invited by King Edward III of England to assist him in his war with the Scots. Aodh Reamhar was known as "the best Irishman of his time." [1] He married Gormlaith O'Donnell. His wife passed in 1353. [2]

[1] Annals of Ireland by the Four Masters

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The Red Hand is rooted in Gaelic culture as the sign of a great warrior. It is believed to date back to pagan times.

The Red Hand is first documented in surviving records in the 13th century, where it was used by the Hiberno-Norman de Burgh earls of Ulster.[3] It was Walter de Burgh who became first Earl of Ulster in 1243 who combined the de Burgh cross with the Red Hand to create a flag that represented the Earldom of Ulster and later became the modern Flag of Ulster.

It was afterwards adopted by the O'Neills when they assumed the ancient kingship of Ulster, inventing the title Rex Ultonie (king of Ulster) for themselves in 1317 and then claiming it unopposed from 1345 onwards.[4][5][6] An early Irish heraldic use in Ireland of the open right hand can be seen in the seal of Aodh Reamhar Ó Néill, king of the Irish of Ulster, 1344–1364.