O' Neill harp
It dates from the late 14th-15th century and bears the arms of the O' Neills but, through being
incorporated into Irish legends linked to figures like Brian Boroimhe, the Pope, Henry II and
Henry VIII, this harp became the physical manifestation of the ancient symbol which represents
the political dominion of Ireland. The stories tell of the harp being given as a gift to foreign
rulers, and then being returned to Ireland by the successors of the foreign rulers as part of a
transaction involving the sovereignty of Ireland.
Brian Boroimhe was the high king of Ireland who died defeating the men of Leinster and the
Ostmen of Dublin (along with forces from Man and the Hebrides) at the battle of Clontarf in 1014.
In 1052, a later Leinster claimant to the high kingship, Diarmait mac Máil na mBó, became king
of Dublin, which would replace Tara as the capital of Ireland. It was a later king of Leinster,
Diarmait mac Murchada, who, having been expelled from Ireland in 1166 by high king Ruaidhri
ua Conchobhair, would submit to the English king Henry II as his lord and thus open Ireland up to
conquest from the west of England.
In 1541, as part of the reformation, Henry VIII gave Ireland back the status of a kingdom in order
to counter claims that it was a papal fief. The story of Donnchad mac Briain Boroimhe, as a
parallel to the story of Diarmait mac Murchada, would have given support to that claim: it relates
that, having been deposed by his nephew, Tairdhealbhach ua Briain, Donnchadh offered Ireland
to Rome, requesting absolution for the murder of his brother, Tadhg mac Briain.