Arklow

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ARKLOW

County : Wicklow

Official blazon

Argent, on water barry-wavy azure and of the first in base an ancient ship of one mast affrontée proper, the sail set and charged with a raven with wings expanded sable, in chief two points, dexter and sinister gules, on the dexter a potter’s wheel or and on the sinister a salmon leaping also proper, with the Motto: Maoin na mara ár Muinighin.

Origin/meaning

The arms show a sail ship, a fish and a potters wheel. The old Viking ship with the raven on the sail denotes the town's ancient connection with the Norsemen. The fish on the right-hand corner depicts the great tradition of fishing and the potters wheel in the left corner denotes the once local pottery, which was the town's biggest industry.

The motto "Maoin na mara ar muinighin" translated means "Our hope lies in the riches of the Sea". This again shows Arklow's fishing and sea-faring tradition.