Re: Supporters for Irish Presidents (was Re: Barony of Slane)

Laurence Jones wrote:
Patrick Cracroft-Brennan:

Would it not have been better for the CHI to have granted arms for the
office of the President of Ireland (which I assume is a coporation
sole in Irish law) and then holders of the said office could have
impaled their personal arms with the arms of the President of Ireland
whilst they held that office?



The following appear in the register of arms:

Vol Q., fol.21, 21st November 1945:

President of Ireland

The shield is impaled. Dexter the arms of Ireland and sinister the personal arms of the President of Ireland, the shiled being encircled by a lunula or and surmounted by an Irish helmet of the fourteenth century.
Supporters: dexter an Irish elk, sinister an Irish wolfhound proper.
Mottto: Do dhun glóire Dé & onóra Éireann.



Interesting. It does not seem that Irish Presidents used these arms of office, preferring their personal arms. I was aware that MacLysaght was keen to revive the use of supporters for people of high rank, and as I much as I admire the man and his work, I would not agree. Again, supporters were only granted to President McAleese and none of her predecessors appear to have used them. As difficult as the task might be, the President should be persuaded to cede the use of the doubly inappropriate red and grey squirrel supporters if the planned retrospective validation of arms grants pre-2005 proceeds. Other grantees allowed supporters ditto, including former Chief Herald O Donoghue.

Sean Murphy
Irish 'Feudal Titles' (with comments on supporters) http://homepage.eircom.net/%7Eseanjmurphy/chiefs/feudaltitles.htm
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