Fermanagh (county)

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FERMANAGH

Abolished 1968.

Official blazon

Arms : Barry wavy argent and azure, two flaunches vert; over all a representation of the Watergate at Enniskillen Or, flying from the battlements to the dexter a banner of St. Patrick.
Crest : Out of a coronet of four shamrocks set upon a rim Or a mount vert, thereon a horse passant argent, caparisoned gules, thereon a knight in full armour, in the dexter hand a sword erect proper [hilt and pomel Or].
Supporters : On either side a brock proper charged on the shoulder with a bezant, thereon a dexter hand couped gules.
Motto : Feor Magh Eanagh

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted August 20, 1954.

The arms show the Watergate at Enniskillen”, the Maguire castle now named Enniskillen Castle located at a chokepoint of the River Erne at one of the few entry points into Ulster. It was built by Hugh “The Hospitable” Maguire who died in 1428. Hugh was the brother of Thomas Maguire, 20th King of Fermanagh and 6th Maguire King of Fermanagh. The castle still exists and is now a museum. “County Fermanagh” was known as “Maguire’s County” in the fifteenth & sixteen centuries.

I have no information on the origin of the badgers. They wear the red hand of Ulster, indicating that the county is part of Ulster and Northern Ireland.

The knight in the crest is from the coat of arms granted to the Maguire family in 1586.