Wexford (county)

Heraldry of the World

Irish heraldry portal
Civic heraldry of Ireland
Araltais in Éirinn

National arms of Ireland
Arms of Counties
Arms of cities and towns
Ecclesiastical heraldry
Educational heraldry
Institutional heraldry
Corporate heraldry
Heraldic postcards
Heraldic stamps
Total pages in the Irish section : 402

COUNTY WEXFORD

Official blazon

Per bend purpure and or, on a bend wavy argent between in chief a lion rampant holding in the paws a pike of the last and on rocks in base a representation of the Hook lighthouse all proper, two spearheads bendwise points upwards also proper. Motto : Exemplar Hiberniae.

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on July 19, 1988.

The arms are in the county's sporting colours of purple and gold. The lion with an axe reminds us that the Norman invaders of Ireland first set foot here, and that Wexford town itself is a Viking foundation. The spear heads recall the pikemen of the 1798 revolution which reached its height in the County. The lighthouse reminds us of the county's maritime connections in particular the major port at Rosslare.

The motto "Exemplar Hiberniae" means "An Example to Ireland".