History was made in the United Dioceses of Tuam, Limerick & Killaloe this week with the launch of the new Diocesan Arms, further cementing the amalgamation of the former Dioceses of Tuam, Killala & Achonry and Limerick, Killaloe & Ardfert. The Arms, commissioned by Bishop Michael Burrows were beautifully presented by the Chief Herald of Ireland and launched officially at the Tuam and Limerick & Killaloe Diocesan Council meetings. The Arms now encompass the eleven dioceses across TLK which now fall under the care of Bishop Michael. Our thanks to the Chief Herald’s Office for producing this stunning document, to Dr Susan Hood of the RCB Library for her advice and care throughout the process and to Kate Williams of the RCB Finance Dept for her assistance. The accompanying text which appears on the document as Gaeilge and in English can be found below:-
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To all to whom these Presents shall come I, Colette O’Flaherty, Chief Herald of Ireland, send Greeting.
Whereas petition hath been made unto me by the Right Reverend, Michael Andrew James Burrows, Bishop of the United Dioceses of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe, setting forth that certain Armorial Ensigns long used and borne by the several Dioceses of Tuam, Killala, Achonry, Limerick and Emly, Ardfert, Aghadoe, Killaloe, Kilfenora, Clonfert and Kilmacduagh do not appear to have been recorded in my Office as pertaining unto the present United Dioceses of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe and that he is desirous that the said arms might now be duly marshalled and Confirmed unto the said United Dioceses with such differences as I might find appropriate and that the said differenced arms may be assigned by lawful authority unto the said United Dioceses such as without injury or prejudice to any other the United Dioceses aforesaid may forever bear and advance and praying that I would confirm, grant and assign unto the said United Dioceses such Armorial Ensigns as aforesaid and that the Armorial Ensigns so granted and assigned may be duly ratified and recorded in the Office of the Chief Herald of Ireland to the end that the Officers of Arms there and all others upon occasion may take full notice and have knowledge thereof.
Now I, the said Chief Herald of Ireland, having taken this matter into consideration and enquired into the circumstances am pleased to comply with the said petition and by virtue of the power vested in me in that behalf do by these Presents confirm, grant and assign unto the United Dioceses of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe the Arms following, that is to say: 1st for Tuam Azure beneath three Gothic arches conjoined as many figures Or their faces, hands and feet Proper in the middle the Blessed Virgin holding upon the sinister arm the Child their heads circled in glory on her dexter side a bishop pontifically vested his dexter hand raised in benediction the sinister hand holding a crozier bend sinister wise and on her sinister side an angel the head circled of the second the dexter forearm elevated and beneath the sinister arm a lamb all of the last 2nd for Limerick and Emly Azure in the dexter chief the head of a pastoral staff in the sinister a mitre and in base two keys addorsed in saltire wards to the chief and pointed downwards all Or 3rd for Killaloe Argent between four trefoils slipped Vert a cross Gules on a chief Azure a key fesswise ward to the dexter and downwards Or 4th for Killala Gules a pastoral staff debruised by an open book the leaves Proper bound Or 5th for Clonfert Gules two pastoral staffs addorsed in saltire Or 6th for Kilfenora Argent a rose Gules barbed Vert seeded Or on a chief Sable three mullets of the last 7th for Ardfert and Aghadoe Azure two keys in saltire wards to the chief and pointed downwards surmounted of a pastoral staff Or 8th for Achonry Argent between four trefoils slipped Vert a pastoral staff Gules surmounted of an open book the leaves Proper bound Azure 9th for Kilmacduagh Gules a cross Argent surmounted of two pastoral staffs addorsed in saltire Or suppressed of a mitre of the second garnished of the last the whole depicted in the margin hereof.
To have and to hold the said Arms unto the said United Dioceses of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe and to the successors in law forever of the said United Dioceses and the same to bear, use, shew, set forth and advance in shield or banner or otherwise according to the Laws of Arms and the practice of this Office and without the let, hindrance, molestation, interruption, controlment or challenge of any manner of person or persons whatsoever, excepting always the Authority of this Office.
Chief Herald of Ireland
Chuig gach aon a shroichfidh an scríbhinn seo, cuirim, Colette O’Flaherty, Príomh-Aralt na hÉireann, Beannacht.
De bhrí go ndearna an Fíor-Oirmhinneach Michael Andrew James Burrows, Easpag Deoisí Aontaithe Thuama, Luimnigh agus Chill Dalua iarratas ormsa á rá nár cláraíodh i m’Oifig, de réir dealraimh, Síne Armais áirithe, in úsáid le fada agus iompartha ag na Deoisí ar leith Thuama, Chill Ala, Achadh Conaire, Luimnigh agus Imligh, Ard Fhearta, Achadh Deo, Chill Dalua, Chill Fhionnúrach, Chluain Feartaagus Chill Mhic Dhuach, mar Síne ármais a bhaineann le Deoisí Aontaithe reatha Thuama, Luimnigh agus Chill Dalua, agus gur mian leis go ndéanfar na Síne Armais áirithe a theachtadh agus a shannadh do na Deoisí Aontaithe sin , le pé deachaire de réir mar is cuí domsa, agus go cuí go sanntar an t-armas deachraithe do na Deoisí Aontaithe sin le húdarás dleathach i gcaoi is go bhféadfaidh na Deoisí Aontaithe réamhluaite na Síne Armais sin a iompar agus a fhoilsiú go deo gan dochar ná díobháil d’aon duine eile agus á impí go ndeonóinn agus go sannfainn do na Deoisí Aontaithe sin na Síne Armais sin mar a dúradh agus go ndéanfar na Síne Armais deonaithe agus sannaithe sin a dhaingniú agus a chur ar breacadh in Oifig Phríomh-Aralt na hÉireann chun go dtabharfaidh na hOifigigh Armas ansin agus gach aon eile mar is gá dá n-úidh go hiomlán agus go mbeidh eolas acu orthu.
Anois, tar éis breithniú á dhéanamh agam ar an iarratas sin agus na cúinsí a fhiosrú is maith liomsa, Príomh-Aralt sin na hÉireann, géilleadh don iarratas sin agus de thairbhe an údaráis atá dílsithe domsa chuige sin leis an Scríbhinn seo, deonaím agus sannaim do Dheoisí Aontaithe Thuama, Luimnigh agus Chill Dalua an t-Armas seo leanas, eadhon, sé sin a rá: 1ú do Thuaim :- Gorm faoi trí áirsí Gotacha ceangailte as a chéile an oiread sin íomhánna Órga a n-aghaidheanna a lámhá agus a gcosa Dualdaite sa lár an Mhaighdean Bheannaithe in a lámh chlé an Leanbh a gcinn ciorclaithe go niamhrach ar a taobh dheis easpag gléasta go pontaifeach a lámh dheas ardaithe le beannacht bachall fiartha faoi chlé ina lámh tuathal agus ar a taobh chlé aingeal an cloigeann ciorclaithe den dara lí an chuisle dheas ardaithe agus faoin lámh chlé uan den lí deireanach 2ú do Luimneach agus Imleach :- Gorm thuas ar dheis ceann bachaille ar clé mítéar thíos dhá eochair cúl le cúl ar dul sailtíre na heanga thuas dírithe anuas Órga uilig 3ú do Chill Dalua :- Airgidí idir ceithre trídhuillí an gas uaine cros Dearg sa bharr Gorm eochair cothrománach an eanga deiseal agus Órga anuas 4ú do Chill Ala :- Dearg caimín Órga leabhar ar oscailt á urú na leathanaigh Dualdaite ceangailte den dara lí 5ú do Chluain Fearta :- Gorm dhá chaimíní cúl le cúl ceannroinnte Órga 6ú do Chill Fhionnúrach :- Airgidí rós Deargna seipil Uaine na síolta Órgasa bharr Dubh trí réalta den lí deireanach 7ú do Ard Fhearta agus Achadh Deo :- Gorm dhá eochair ar dul sailtírena heanga thuas dírithe anuas caimín Órga anuas air 8ú do Achadh Conaire :- Airgidí idir ceithre triufanna na gais uaine caimín Dearg anuas air leabhar as oscailt na duilleoga Dualdaite ceangailte Gorm 9ú do Chill Mhic Dhuach :- Dubh cros Airgidí anuas air dhá chaimíní cúl le cúl
crannroinnte Órga ceilte ag mítéar den dara li gléasta den lí deireanach a iomlán sin deartha go soiléir ar a imeall seo.
Go sealbhóidh agus go dteachtfaidh na Deoisí Aontaithe Thuama, Luimnigh agus Chill Dalua sin agus comharbaí buan sa dlí na nDeoisí Aontaithe sin an t-Armas sin go deo agus é á iompar, á úsáid, á thaispeáint, á lua agus á fhoilsiú ar sciath nó ar mheirge nó eile agus cách ag comhlíonadh a dheachra díre dílse de réir Dlíthe an Armais agus Nós na hOifige seo, gan cosc, gan bac, gan cur isteach, gan coiscriú, gan smacht, gan caidéis ó dhuine ná ó dhaoine ar bith seachas i gcónaí Údarás na hOifige seo. Dá fhianaise sin scríobh mé m’Ainm agus mo Theideal leis seo agus ghreamaigh mé
Séala m’Oifige de arna dhátú an lá seo de 2023
PRÍOMH-ARALT NA hÉIREANN
Information on the work of the Chief Herald’s Office, part of the National Library of Ireland can be found here:- https://www.nli.ie/office-chief-herald
The Rt Revd Michael Burrows launches the TLK Diocesan Arms at the Tuam Diocesan Council on 5th March, 2024
Tuam et al
Members of the Tuam Diocesan Council from L to R, Mr Charles Wills, Mr Mathew Masterson, Dr Catherine Emerson, Bishop Michael Burrows, Mrs Heather Pope, The Very Revd Diane Matchett, The Revd Canon Andrea Wills, Mr Stephen Fletcher
The Bishop launches the TLK Arms at the meeting of the Limerick & Killaloe Diocesan Council on 6th March, 2024. Pictured L to R, Dr Catherine Smith, The Ven John Godfrey, Bishop Michael Burrows, Ms Lorna Sharpe and Ms Phyllis Mason
Dr Susan Hood, RCB Library presents the TLK Diocesan Arms to the Rt Revd Michael Burrows in January 2024