Bantry

Heraldry of the World Civic heraldry of the Ireland

BANTRY

County : Cork

Origin/meaning

These arms, assumed locally, are said to have the following meaning:
The blue, as a colour, has an old association with Ireland and the particular shade on the shield is known as "St. Patrick's Blue".
The cross represents Faith and Christianity.
The bend represents Bantry Bay and the Ships to symbolise Wolfe Tone's attempted invasion with the French Fleet (1796) in the Cause of Irish Freedom.
The Boar is taken from the Arms of the O'Sullivan Beare to denote Bantry's association with the Clan and in Heraldry, a boar is symbolic of "Courage and Determination."

The Motto is a line taken frorn an Irish poem (16th Century) by Aonague Daighre O'Dalaigh, one of a celebrated Munster literary family. "NA CLUINTER CLAOITECT ORAIBH." "NEVER MAY DEFEAT BE TOLD OF YOU"

Literature : Image and information provided by Laurence Jones (laurencejones@eircom.net)