Heraldry
Heraldry Ireland : Araltas Éireann
The Society is only one of possibly two civil society organisations promoting the study of heraldry in Ireland, the other being our good friends at the Clans of Ireland : Finte na hÉireann.
The Society received a grant of arms, heraldic banner and heraldic badge in 2001 from the Chief Herald of Ireland and was the first genealogical organisation in Ireland to have a coat-of-arms from the Chief Herald of Ireland.
For information on the Society’s coat-of-arms and that of each of its Presidents, please see:
It is generally understood that heraldry was brought to Ireland by the Anglo-Normans following the invasions of the late twelfth century, however, by the fourteenth century it was adopted by the Gaelic kings and nobility. However, the indigenous Irish were still very much attached to their own traditional symbolism as displayed on the banners of the Gaelic chiefs. Some of these symbols are clearly very ancient in origin and may have a pre-Christian religious significance and, of course, this makes Irish heraldry quite distinctive.
The regulation of Irish heraldry began to take some form during the fifteenth century; however, it was put on a firm footing by King Edward VI in 1552 with the establishment of the heraldic office known as ‘Ulster King of Arms’. The title of the office has been the subject of much debate and speculation, it needn’t concern us here.
The Ulster King of Arms acted as a crown official recording and granting coats-of-arms in the Kingdom of Ireland from 1552 until 1801, and in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until 1922 and in the Irish Free State (and Northern Ireland) up to 1936. Thereafter, things became a bit complicated, legally and constitutionally, until the contents of Ulster’s office in Dublin Castle were transferred to the custody of the government of Ireland and his role, functions and duties as a “UK crown officer” were transferred to the College of Arms in London in March 1943 and united with Norroy King of Arms to become ‘Norroy & Ulster King of Arms’.
Meanwhile in Dublin Castle, the office vacated by Ulster King of Arms was redesignated as the ‘Genealogical Office’ in April 1943 with Dr Edward MacLysaght later assuming the title ‘Chief Herald of Ireland’ and commenced the issuance of grants of arms for applicants, mainly from the USA, and thus, the Irish heraldic service was born. Unfortunately, the office was not legislatively established and therefore, it operated in an anomalous position until the enactment by the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament) of the National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997. However, this act was not commenced by the relevant Minister until May 2005 and therefore, the legislative basis of Irish heraldry only dates from May 2005. The status of the arms granted by the Chief Herald of Ireland between April 1943 and May 2005 remains to be resolved by legislation – simply, a straightforward amendment of Section 13 of the 1997 Act.
The regulation of Irish heraldry began to take some form during the fifteenth century; however, it was put on a firm footing by King Edward VI in 1552 with the establishment of the heraldic office known as ‘Ulster King of Arms’. The title of the office has been the subject of much debate and speculation, it needn’t concern us here.
The Ulster King of Arms acted as a crown official recording and granting coats-of-arms in the Kingdom of Ireland from 1552 until 1801, and in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until 1922 and in the Irish Free State (and Northern Ireland) up to 1936. Thereafter, things became a bit complicated, legally and constitutionally, until the contents of Ulster’s office in Dublin Castle were transferred to the custody of the government of Ireland and his role, functions and duties as a “UK crown officer” were transferred to the College of Arms in London in March 1943 and united with Norroy King of Arms to become ‘Norroy & Ulster King of Arms’.
Meanwhile in Dublin Castle, the office vacated by Ulster King of Arms was redesignated as the ‘Genealogical Office’ in April 1943 with Dr Edward MacLysaght later assuming the title ‘Chief Herald of Ireland’ and commenced the issuance of grants of arms for applicants, mainly from the USA, and thus, the Irish heraldic service was born. Unfortunately, the office was not legislatively established and therefore, it operated in an anomalous position until the enactment by the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament) of the National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997. However, this act was not commenced by the relevant Minister until May 2005 and therefore, the legislative basis of Irish heraldry only dates from May 2005. The status of the arms granted by the Chief Herald of Ireland between April 1943 and May 2005 remains to be resolved by legislation – simply, a straightforward amendment of Section 13 of the 1997 Act.
‘Heraldry Ireland’ was established in 2013 to act as a vehicle for the Society’s promotion of an awareness, appreciation and knowledge of Irish heraldry and to encourage individuals, clubs, organisations and businesses to embrace of heraldic heritage by displaying coats-of-arms, heraldic banners and using such on personal stationery, business promotions etc.
It was initially envisaged that ‘Heraldry Ireland’ would have its own membership and be administered as a subsidiary of the Society; however, this structure was later amended to extend membership of this Specialist Branch of the Society to all Members of the Society as part of the Membership Package.
In 2022, the Board of the Society appointed Dr Antonio Salmerón Cabañas, SHA, FGSI, of Madrid, Spain, as Honorary Herald of the Genealogical Society of Ireland to advise the Board on the promotion of heraldry and on heraldic matters generally.
It was initially envisaged that ‘Heraldry Ireland’ would have its own membership and be administered as a subsidiary of the Society; however, this structure was later amended to extend membership of this Specialist Branch of the Society to all Members of the Society as part of the Membership Package.
In 2022, the Board of the Society appointed Dr Antonio Salmerón Cabañas, SHA, FGSI, of Madrid, Spain, as Honorary Herald of the Genealogical Society of Ireland to advise the Board on the promotion of heraldry and on heraldic matters generally.
‘Heraldry Ireland’ is in the final stages of designing a nationwide project to record the contemporary and historical use of heraldry throughout the island of Ireland by individuals, organisations and businesses. This National Heraldic Survey will be a first for Ireland and the public will be invited to contribute to the collection of the information which will create a national database of heraldry in daily use in Ireland.
‘Heraldry Ireland’ has utilised its Facebook page as the main platform for its activities and from 2023 has hosted the ‘Annual Heraldry Ireland Lecture’ on the second Tuesday in May each year featuring guest speakers like Martin Goldstraw of The Armorial Register, Amb (ret) Francis O’Donnell, FGSI, President of the Genealogical Society of Ireland and, in 2025, Ralf Hartemink of Heraldry of the World.
‘Heraldry Ireland’ has utilised its Facebook page as the main platform for its activities and from 2023 has hosted the ‘Annual Heraldry Ireland Lecture’ on the second Tuesday in May each year featuring guest speakers like Martin Goldstraw of The Armorial Register, Amb (ret) Francis O’Donnell, FGSI, President of the Genealogical Society of Ireland and, in 2025, Ralf Hartemink of Heraldry of the World.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I get a coat-of-arms if I live in Ireland?
- If you are an Irish citizen or have Irish ancestry you can apply to the Office of the Chief Herald of Ireland for a grant of arms. Official documentary evidence of your status will be required – birth and marriage certificates etc. The process is very thorough and the professional heraldic advice on the design of the Arms is of an exceptionally high standard. The service provided is excellent and, not surprisingly, this is reflected in the costs involved. The Chief Herald of Ireland will register the Arms and provide a beautifully executed painting of the Arms on parchment by a commissioned heraldic artist. This is the ideal way to obtain your coat-of-arms.
- Or, you can contact a reputable heraldic artist and obtain a new coat-of-arms based on a design agreed between you and the heraldic artist. The heraldic artist may provide either an actual painting of the Arms or an electronic image. Once obtained, it is advisable to register your Arms with The Armorial Register or with the Heraldry Committee of the New England Historical Genealogical Society or a similar registry. This is certainly a more affordable option for many people and the quality of the product received depends on the heraldic artist chosen. Check the websites of each to see examples of their work.
Example of assumed Arms.
https://youtu.be/9xib9nJA0Dk?si=DjSaS4j1qkpvlDzZ
And
The Arms of Eugene McCarthy – The Armorial Register
2. What about “Clan/Sept Arms”?
- The controversial issue of “Clan/Sept Arms” has been raging since the late 1940s when, Dr Edward MacLysaght, first Chief Herald of Ireland, was accused of promoting the concept. However, MacLysaght was careful to point to the conventions commonly known as the “Law of Arms” on the issue of ownership and inheritability of armorial bearings. He blamed John O’Hart for the concept and suggested that he (O’Hart) was “unconsciously abetted by the eminent and indefatigable Sir Bernard Burke, whose ‘General Armory’ is responsible for supplying non-armigerous and irresponsible aspirations with material for their irregularities”. MacLysaght in the same article refers to the use of Arms by the Gaelic chiefs and certain branches of the families specified (in Burke) before the establishment of Ulster’s office in 1552. (‘Intelligible Heraldry’ by Sir Christopher Lynch-Robinson and Adrian Lynch-Robinson, London, 1948). Probably, it was publications like ‘Irish Heraldry’ by Murphy & McCarthy (1930, New York) that popularised the concept in the United States and triggered a demand for such a product – this was over a decade before MacLysaght got involved in the provision of heraldic service.
- So, nearly a century after the publication of ‘Irish Heraldry’ by Murphy & McCarthy in New York, and if we are to agree with MacLysaght, over one hundred and thirty years after O’Hart’s publications, we find these “Clan/Sept Arms” readily available as off-the-shelf heraldic products throughout the world. The heraldic community cannot continue to simply ignore the existence of the longstanding and popularly accepted concept of “Clan/Sept Arms” based on the heraldic conventions commonly known as the ‘Law of Arms’. This may be fine for the purists and the ultra-traditionalists, but the battle, if not the war, has long been lost on this issue and it is time for official accommodation, and regulation, of the concept of “Clan/Sept Arms”. This could involve the official registration of the Arms of Clan/Sept associations affiliated with the Clans of Ireland and the similar registration of “Matrimonial & Family Arms”.
- The assertion that heraldry is somehow frozen in time and that the conventions commonly known as the ‘Law of Arms’ are written in stone is utterly unfounded and, quite frankly, nonsensical. Heraldry has always evolved to meet the needs or tastes of society and, in recent decades, the legal requirement of equality – a position reflected heraldically here in Ireland since the early part of this century. An understanding of this point is particularly important in a republic, and it cannot be ignored based on heraldic tradition or convention. That day has long gone!
3. What are “Matrimonial and Family Arms?
In the absence of a clear definition of “Matrimonial and Family Arms” the Society became the first organisation to officially endorse under Res: 24/04/1822, the definition of ‘Matrimonial and Family Arms’ as formulated by Spanish heraldist and heraldic artist, Dr Antonio Salmerón Cabañas, SHA, FGSI, the GSI Honorary Herald; Martin Goldstraw, JP, FRSA, Scot., the Director of The Armorial Register, and Michael Merrigan, MA, FGSI, General Secretary of the Society.
The resolution of the Board of Directors adopting the definition, to be cited as the “MGS Definition of Matrimonial & Family Arms”, reads as follows:
“Matrimonial and Family Arms” recognises heraldically “marriage equality” as defined by law as a union between persons of the opposite sex or persons of the same sex and, in doing so, the arms are jointly owned by the parties to the marriage, and, depending on the jurisdiction and any legal obligations, they are inheritable in the normal manner of arms or may be assigned or bequeathed by the surviving party as their personal property to whom they so wish, noting at all times, that such a transfer should be recorded in any register or roll of arms concerned, however, in the case of a dissolution of a marriage, the arms may be assigned or lapsed as agreed by the parties and again, such should be recorded in any register or roll of arms concerned.
An example on “Matrimonial & Family Arms”.
https://youtu.be/yfnYd3pXYQ4?si=VL_avbl4pmzCfvwS
And
The Matrimonial and Family Arms of Darryn Carlo and Roberto Luchoro – The Armorial Register
4. Can I register my assumed Arms?
- If you mean would the office of the Chief Herald of Ireland register your assumed Arms, the answer is no. The Chief Herald of Ireland only registers grants and confirmations made by the office. The question whether the Chief Herald of Ireland should have a facility to register assumed Arms is possibly something that could be raised whenever the National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997, is to be amended.
- There are privately operated registration services which do register assumed Arms; however, most are now rigorously applying high standards in respect of the conventions on heraldic design. This is important not only for the reputation of the registries concerned, but for heraldry in general. All too often we see assumed Arms that are, quite frankly, disastrously outlandish, proportionally absurd and defying the very practical conventions on colours.
- So, if you want to have your assumed Arms registered, which you should, then have the Arms professionally drawn or painted by a heraldic artist. The Arms will look much better, and you’ll be rightly proud of your registered assumed Arms.