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:-
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
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