Bantry

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BANTRY

County : Cork

Official blazon

Azure, on a bend sinister argent between in chief an ancient stone passion cross or and in base a boar passant proper three antique ships sable, with the Motto: Ná cluinter claoi claoitecht oraibh.

Origin/meaning

These arms, assumed locally, are said to have the following meaning:
The blue, as a colour, has an old association with Ireland and the particular shade on the shield is known as "St. Patrick's Blue".
The cross represents Faith and Christianity.
The bend represents Bantry Bay and the Ships to symbolise Wolfe Tone's attempted invasion with the French Fleet (1796) in the Cause of Irish Freedom.
The Boar is taken from the Arms of the O'Sullivan Beare to denote Bantry's association with the Clan and in Heraldry, a boar is symbolic of "Courage and Determination."

The Motto is a line taken frorn an Irish poem (16th Century) by Aonague Daighre O'Dalaigh, one of a celebrated Munster literary family. "NA CLUINTER CLAOITECT ORAIBH." "NEVER MAY DEFEAT BE TOLD OF YOU"

Literature: