Bray

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BRAY

County : Wicklow

Official blazon

Per chevron gules and azure, a chevron rompu or charged with a martlet sable, in the dexter chief a bell in the sinister a lion passant of the third, in base a mermaid with comb and mirror proper, with the Motto: Féile agus Fáilte.

Origin/meaning

The arms were devised to suggest topographical features and to commemorate local history.

In the shield, the chevron represents the bridge over the Dargle river which separates Little Bray from Bray. On one side above the chevron is a bell, which represents the ruined church of considerable antiquity known as Raheenacluig, at Bray Head. On the other side is a lion, taken from the arms of the O'Tooles, a family which had a castle at Powerscourt and which has been prominent in the Bray districtsince early times.
On the centre of the chevron is a martlet, or heraldic swallow, which signifies the long and close association of the family of Brabazon, Earls of Meath, with the civic life of Bray.
In the lower part of the shield is a mermaid, derived from the arms of O'Byrne, another family which is closely associated with Bray and which took a very active part in the wars of the sixteen^th century.

The motto "Féile agus Failte" means "Hospitality and Welcome".