Lurgan

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LURGAN

Incorporated into : 1974 : Craigavon (2015 Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon)

Official blazon

Arms : per pale Or and argent, eight martlets, three, to, tree sable; a bordure charged with five escallops of the first and as many mullets of the second alterately.
Crest : A greyhound statant Or semée of flax flowers stalked and leaved proper, and collared gules.
Supporters : On either side a unicorn argent charged on the shoulder with a stalk of flax flowered and leaved proper.
Motto: Be just and fear not

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on December 7, 1951.

The division of the shield into gold and silver, the black martlets, the silver mullets and gold scallops are all taken from the arms of the Brownlow family, Barons of Lurgan. The town had previously used since 1868, when adopted by the Town Commissioners, the arms of the Barons, joined to arms of their own invention.

The greyhound, with the colours of the hound and collar reversed, come from the crest of the Brownlows. It can also be seen as representing Master McGrath, a famous greyhound and winner of the Waterloo Cup on three occasions, and was the first greyhound to do so. He became such a celebrity that his owner, the 2nd Baron Lurgan, was asked to take him to be seen by Queen Victoria.

The flax sprigs are for difference and refer to the locally important industry.