Riots in Belfast/Red Hand symbol

Beginning next week, I will be spending two weeks in Ireland, therefore I have become concerned with the recent riots taking place in Belfast. "The Troubles," (the most common name for the ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland), at times spills over into the Republic of Ireland, England, and mainland Europe.  The Troubles began in the late 1960s and is considered to have ended with the Belfast "Good Friday" Agreement of 1998.  Nonetheless, sporadic violence has continued ever since.  The decades-long conflict issues have been raised to the Northern Ireland Assembly level, as some consider this period of conflict to be war.

The primary issues involved in "The Troubles" are the constitutional status of Northern Ireland and the relationship between two core communities.  The first community - Unionists and Loyalists, primarily hail from the Protestant community and generally desire Northern Ireland to remain within the United Kingdom. The second community - the Irish Nationalists and Republicans, predominately hail form the Catholic community and desire to leave the United Kingdom and join a united Ireland.   The former generally views their group as British and the latter generally views their group as Irish.  "The Troubles" involved republican and loyalist paramilitaries, the state security forces of the Untied Kingdom and of the Republic of Ireland, and politicians as well as political activists.  More than 3,500 people have been killed during the conflict.

Belfast, one of the cities in which my family and I want to conduct genealogical research, suffered from rioting just last month.  Fifty-six police officers were injured.  Hopefully, we will feel safe enough to enter the city's libraries, cemeteries, and Heritage Centers while visiting.

Moving on to the Irish "Red Hand" - the symbol, and what the icon stands for. As I have conducted Irish research this "red hand" symbol has surfaced numerous times and is even found on the current flag of Northern Ireland; although disputes are on-going to change the current standard.

Countless versions of the red-hand tale exist in the oral traditions of Ireland.  The best-known version is comprised of a Viking longboat war party fast approaching the shores of Ulster (which in now the country of Northern Ireland, separate from the rest of Ireland).  Their leader promises the first man to touch land full possession of the territory.  On board is an Irish mercenary, a turncoat of a man called O'Neill who, with a sword blow, severs his hand and throws it ashore.  Ulster is now his property and the mutilated hand becomes the family symbol and con for a regional creation myth immersed in violence and territorial rights.

Have you ever heard the phrase "The Fighting Irish?" Well, the Irish people are descended from  some pretty tough ancestry.  I personally believe the Irish were born from this type of gene-pool to survive the centuries that came BEFORE the modern-day conflicts; however, that is another story entirely.

I am looking forward to exploring my Irish roots and connecting with the Emerald Isle's people!

References:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/hand-over-fist-the-red-hand-of-ulster-still-has-the-power-to-divide-northern-ireland-1950412.html