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Coat of arms of Ireland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The coat of arms of Ireland is blazoned as azure a harp or, stringed argent - a gold harp with silver strings on a blue background. The harp has long been Ireland's heraldic emblem. The harp shown appears to be a Gaelic harp.
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The harp has been recognised as a symbol of Ireland since the 13th century[1] and was used on Irish coinage by kings John and Edward I. It is sometimes referred to for convenience as the harp of Brian Boru, High King of Ireland. Visual heraldry within Ireland started in 1392 on the creation of the first Ireland King of Arms. The harp was adopted as the symbol of the new Kingdom of Ireland established by Henry I of Ireland in 1541-42. It has appeared in the third quarter of the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom since the union of the crowns of Ireland and England to that of Scotland by James VI of Scotland in March 1603.
The harp was selected as the state emblem on the establishment of the Irish Free State, and one of its earliest treatments was on the Great Seal of the Irish Free State. It continued to be a state emblem after the Constitution of Ireland was adopted. The image of the harp is used on coins, passports, and official documents of the state; it is also the official seals of the President, Taoiseach, Tánaiste, Ministers of the Government and other officials.
The harp on the 1928 coinage was based on the Galway and Trinity College harps, whilst a much modified version was introduced on 1939 coinage, and the present Irish euro coins are largely based on this.
From the rise of the Stuart dynasty to the thrones of England and Ireland in 1603, the royal coat of arms began to feature the Irish harp in representation of the Kingdom of Ireland. Over the years this harp was altered and rearranged representing the various changes in the political status quo until the modern British coat of arms became official on the accession of Queen Victoria to the throne of the United Kingdom, 1819. The modern British Royal Coat of Arms, both in England, Wales and Scotland, as well as the coat of arms of Canada, feature an Irish harp in the lower left quadrant.
The Brian Boru harp, also referred to as the Trinity College harp or simply as the Brian Boru, is the oldest surviving Irish harp. It dates back to the late 14th century and is on permanent display in the Long Room of the library of Trinity College, Dublin The harp was named after Brian Boru, High King of Ireland, but as he died about 400 years before it was made, it cannot actually have belonged to him.
It was badly restored in 1841 in such a way that it could not be played properly. The image of it used by the Irish Free State (facing left) and as a trademark by Guinness from 1862 is based on the 1841 restoration. A later restoration in 1960 has resulted in a larger sound-box which is sonically authentic, and therefore its "fat" shape often surprises visitors who can see it at Trinity College.
The harp appears on the coat of arms of Ireland, which were officially registered as the arms of the state on 9 November 1945.
The official heraldic description is:
- Azure a harp Or stringed Argent.
- ^ The Encyclopedia of Ireland, Brian Lalor, Gill & Macmillan, Dublin 2003.
- Department of Foreign Affairs - Government of Ireland: Facts about Ireland
- The Brian Boru Harp
- Henry VIII Harp Groat - H & I