Irish grant of arms

[Gael Ridire]

When working on my family history in early 1990s, I learned that coat-of-arms were still granted, and felt that it would be a fitting tribute to hose in the book if I was able to obtain a grant of arms. I first applied to the Lord Lyon since I was very much into my Scottish heritage, but he declined and referred me to the Chief Herald of Ireland's office. The person who I communicated with was Deputy Herlad Fergus Gillespie. Since I knew where my mother's family came from in northern Ireland I included information about them coming from Glenveagh, County Donegal, Ireland. Fergus wrote that he was raised by a family of my mother's name and gave them my address to see if there was a relationship. They descended from the brother who stayed behind in 1804 when the elder two brothers & uncle left for America.

I had one Irish/Canadian armiger counsel to design the arms graphically. But to me they needed to tell the history of my pedigree.

It was deemed that I had arrived at the port of gentility (have no idea what the qualifications are) where a grant of arms was appropriate. With this new finding of family on my mother's side I wished to show this connection and that of my tradition of surname being O'Brien. In time the below arms sent for me to approve. One look at them I understood the meanings right away: The had holding a cross crosslet fitchee is purely a Gaelic symbol of the Kindred of St. Collumcille (St Columbia), who was born at Gartan, Donegal, some five miles away from where my mother's family was from. The chiefs of the Kindred is the Chief of the Robertsons, from whom my mother's family was from in Scotland before transplanting to Donegal in the 17th century. The ermine and cross allude to the arms of County Donegal. An additional meaning came to me for 14 of my forefathers were various ministers in the new World of America. One who was thrown into prison for treason against the Crown in 1773 in Virginia for being a Baptist minister.

The green chevron was for Ireland. And the sun a canting charge for my wife's surname of Day.

The two swords allude to my military service in the US Air Force and Army during Vietnam War. The ancient arms of O'Brien are a fore-arm holding a sword. It also alludes to my two sons who are Olympic fencers of note. Also I'm the 27th veteran of an American war in my lineage.

Thus in looking at my pedigree the two contributions my forefathers have made is answering the call to arms, and preaching the Gospel on the frontier.

The crest is the O'Brien lion from the modern arms but without being divided into the two metals of gold & silver. Motto is Gaelic: "Mar a Chuirtear Bainfear" i.e., "Taken as it is given," or "Reap what is sown." Livery colors are vert (green) & white (not argent). Green for Ireland and white for Jacobite of my O'Brien ancestors.

My assumed armiger's badge is that of looking down on a Columbine flower (state flower of Colorado from where I the 4th generation) which is on the tombstone of my immigrant 2nd great-grandfather. With a billet argent between each of the five petals. Alludes to the sidewalk of silver that Pres US Grant walked on when visiting Central City, CO in 1873. The sidewalk of silver was made by my 2nd great-grandfather Wm. O'Bryan/Bryant.

Of Course there will be those who will complain that I wear Irish arms on Scottish dress. But as I said in another post, to me the Irish & Scots are the one in the same people (although there are those who would greatly disagree with me). But I'm taking what I consider the best from both for the present, for my family to continue with and identify with in the future.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Of Course there will be those who will complain that I wear Irish arms on Scottish dress.

Scottish arms are neither superior, nor inferior, to those granted or confirmed by The College of Arms in London, the Canadian Heraldic authority in Ottawa, the South African Bureau of Heraldry in Pretoria, the Office of Arms in Dublin, or any other substantive heraldic authority.

Only a complete idiot could -- or would -- complain about about a non-Scottish armiger wearing Highland attire.

[piperdbh]

Only a complete idiot could -- or would -- complain about about a non-Scottish armiger wearing Highland attire.

They're scattered all over the world, you know.

[auld argonian]

They're scattered all over the world, you know.

Complete idiots or Non-Scottish Armigers wearing Highland attire?

Best

AA

[piperdbh]

Yes.

[creagdhubh]

Scottish arms are neither superior, nor inferior, to those granted or confirmed by The College of Arms in London, the Canadian Heraldic authority in Ottawa, the South African Bureau of Heraldry in Pretoria, the Office of Arms in Dublin, or any other substantive heraldic authority.

Only a complete idiot could -- or would -- complain about about a non-Scottish armiger wearing Highland attire.

Precisely, Scott. Gael Ridire, thank you for sharing your armorial bearings, very nice!

[Irish Jack O'Brian]

Sir, that is a beautiful document and some absolutely stunning calligraphy! Congratulations.

[Mike_Oettle]

While there is a lot of symbolism in the arms, they actually don’t look as busy as the explanation would seem to suggest.
I like the look of them.
I would mention, though, that argent and white are interchangeable, especially when it comes to torses and mantling.
On a shield you could (theoretically) use actual silver for argent and gold for or, but the torse and the mantling are always cloth.
Since the white in your torse is an abstraction of the white element in the ermine field, you could look on it as being “not silver”, but it would not be depicted as being silver in any case.
Regards,
Mike

[Cygnus]

..
I would mention, though, that argent and white are interchangeable...

Unless you're dealing with the Portuguese, in which case white and argent are two different tinctures.

[seanachie]

"Of Course there will be those who will complain that I wear Irish arms on Scottish dress."

Not I, for both Eamonn Ceannt and Padraic Pearse wore the kilt.