Tullamore

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TULLAMORE

County : Offaly

Official blazon

Azure from a mount in base vert a phoenix rising in flames proper, at honour point a cross of St. Brigid between two cross crosslets or.

Origin/meaning

The arms were granted to Tullamore District Council on 7 March, 1956.

The green hill represents the town's name which comes from the Irish "Tulach Mhór," meaning “great mound.” The phoenix rising from the ashes symbolises the rebirth of Tullamore after a hot air balloon disaster destroyed a third of the village in 1785. The cross in the centre is that of St. Brigid, one of the three main patron saints of Ireland, who became a nun in the vicinity. The two crosses refer to the Burys who ruled in the area as the Earls of Charleville.

Literature : Scan from a heraldic map of Ireland. Information provided by Stan Zamyatin Moore.