Twentieth Anniversary of the
Grant of Arms to the Genealogical Society of Ireland 15 March 2001 Presentation No. 4 (2021) Best Viewed in Full Screen
Heraldry in Ireland •
Heraldry, as we know it, arrived in Ireland with the Anglo-Norman Invasion of 1169/71
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It was gradually adopted by the native Gaelic kings, princes, lords and chiefs
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Irish heraldic symbolism became a blend of the European and the Gaelic traditions
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Edward VI established the Office of Arms in Dublin with the title ‘Ulster King of Arms’ on 2 February 1552
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Ulster’s office regulated Irish heraldry and granted Arms in the name of the monarch until 30 March 1943
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Between 12 December 1936 and 30 March 1943 this “Crown Office” operated in an anomalous position within the State due to the provision of the External Relations Act of 1936
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The contents of Ulster’s office were transferred by the British to Irish control on 1 April 1943 and since then the heraldic functions were undertaken by the Chief Herald of Ireland at the Genealogical Office
Chief Herald of Ireland Príomh Áralt na hÉireann •
The office and the extensive archival resources and treasures of Ulster King of Arms in Dublin Castle were transferred to Irish control on 1 April 1943
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The office was attached to the Department of Education and came under the control of the National Library of Ireland as the ‘Genealogical Office’.
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The British transferred the functions of Ulster King of Arms (Crown Office) to the College of Arms in London.
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The Irish seeing the demand for heraldic services created the post of ‘Chief Herald of Ireland’ at the Genealogical Office to provide heraldic services in Ireland and to the Irish diaspora
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A legislative basis for the State’s heraldic services was requested, but overlooked until the enactment of the National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997 (commended May 2005).
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Photo: Mr. Mícheál Ó Comáin, Consulting Herald at the Office of the Chief Herald of Ireland, wearing the tabard of the Chief Herald of Ireland while representing Ireland at St. Andrews in Scotland in 2006.
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This beautiful tabard was a gift from the Heraldry Society of Scotland to the Chief Herald of Ireland.
Grant of Arms by Letters Patent •
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The Society’s Arms were hand-panted onto vellum with the texts in both Irish and English.
The Letters Patent depict the shield, heraldic badge and the heraldic banner. Designed by Mícheál Ó Comáin, Consulting Herald. Heraldic artist – Philip Mackey of Donegal. Signed by the Chief Herald of Ireland, Mr. Brendan O’Donoghue and dated 15 March 2001
Symbolism in the Arms •
Blazon: “Azure within a bordure treflee or two scrolls in saltire argent banded at the centre vert surmounted of a chief of the second thereon a sprig of oak leaved and fructed proper’
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Azure or blue is the ancient colour for Ireland; the golden border of trefoils (shamrocks) for Ireland; two scrolls for research and records; banded with green ribbon; surmounted by a golden bar at the top (chief) with a sprig of oak for our ancient roots and genealogy and, of course, remembering the Society’s first President, Denis O Conor Don.
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Motto: Cuimhnigí ar ár Sinnsir (‘Remember Our Ancestors)
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Design: Mícheál Ó Comáin, Consulting Herald at the Office of the Chief Herald of Ireland.
Presentation of the Arms
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The Society’s Arms were presented by the Chief Herald of Ireland, Mr. Brendan O’Donoghue at a civic reception held at the County Hall in Dún Laoghaire on Monday 23 July 2001.
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Photo: Cathaoirleach (Chair) of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Cllr. Betty Coffey, Mr. Brendan O’Donoghue, Chief Herald of Ireland (centre) and Mr. Rory Stanley, Cathaoirleach of the Society.
Images from the County Hall Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown - Monday 23 July 2001
Heraldic Banner •
The Grant of Arms included a grant of a Heraldic Banner
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The Heraldic Banner is shown here flying over the Martello Tower at Seapoint, Co. Dublin.
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It was carried by the Society in the ‘Parade of Flags’ organized by the Society, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and the National Maritime Museum of Ireland during the ‘Bratacha – Festival of Flags & Emblems’ in 2013.
• The Society is the only heritage organization in Ireland with a grant of a Heraldic Banner.
Heraldic Badge & Livery Flag •
The grant of the Heraldic Badge was made possible by the kind and generous sponsorship provided by Barbara Mungovan-Koch from the USA.
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The Heraldic Badge became known as the “Mungovan Badge” in honour of Barbara’s father, Joseph Mungovan.
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It is shown here on the medallion of the Chain of Office of the President of the Genealogical Society of Ireland.
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The Heraldic Badge also features on the Society’s ‘Livery Flag’ which is flown in the manner of a company flag or ‘house flag’.
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The description of the Heraldic Badge given in the Grant of Arms is “On a hurt fimbriated a Hungerford knot the end acorned or”.
More Information •
Worthy mention in ‘The Complete Book of Heraldry – An International history of heraldry and its contemporary uses’ by Stephen Slater. Published by Lorenz Books, London, 2002.
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‘Royal Roots – Republican Inheritance – The Survival of the Office of Arms’ by Susan Hood. Published by The Woodfield Press and the National Library of Ireland, Dublin, 2002.
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‘Armas – Sracfhéachaint ar Araltas na hÉireann’ le Nicholas Williams. Foilsithe ag Coiscéim, Baile Átha Cliath (Published by Coiscéim, Dublin) 2001
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‘Irish Heraldry – a brief introduction’ by Nicholas Williams. Published by Evertype, Portlaoise, 2017
• ‘National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997’ – Sections 12 and 13. www.oireachtas.ie • Office of the Chief Herald of Ireland – see www.nli.ie (National Library of Ireland) • Various articles on heraldry and the Irish heraldic authority published by the Society in its Annual Journal and in its newsletters – see www.familyhistory.ie
Presentation produced for ‘Heraldry Ireland – Áraltas Éireann’ by the Genealogical Society of Ireland – see www.familyhistory.ie