Thursday 27 November 2014

Heraldry at Termonfeckin


Heritage Week 2019. The County Louth Archaeological & Historical Society (https://clahs.ie/) tour of Termonfeckin led by Declan Quaile takes in the Church of Ireland (St Fechin’s). The church is due for sale. All the monuments are recorded here.

Please visit the website of Termonfeckin Historical Society for all aspects relating to the history of the town.
                                                   http://www.termonfeckinhistory.ie/


Here we present an article in 2007 Termonfechin Review



Plaque Inscriptions and Heraldry in Termonfeckin Parish 

(Seamus Bellew and Declan Quaile)


PLAQUE INSCRIPTIONS IN ST FECHIN’S CHURCH

The present Church of Ireland (St Fechin’s) at Termonfeckin was built in 1792 to the design of Francis Johnston, with a tower and wooden spire. A broach spire of limestone ashlar was designed by another Armagh architect, Samson Jervis. It was erected after 1903, when Elizabeth Jane Brabazon bequeathed £2,000 towards its construction (Casey and Rowan 1993, 498). The inscriptions appearing on the monuments and brasses inside the church now follow.

Brabazon (Wallop & second wife, Margaret Crane)

Sacred to the memory of Wallop Brabazon of Rath Esqr. who departed this life on the 28th day of October 1831 aged 61 years. “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord” His piety was deep and earnest tho unobtrusive while his conduct throughout an active and useful life gave unvarying evidence of the practical Christian. He was an affectionate husband, a tender father, a kind master, a humane and impartial magistrate, a liberal and indulgent landlord, possessing a mind richly informed and variously gifted with an open and generous heart, courteous manners and a cheerful social disposition. He was highly estimable as an acquaintance, invaluable as a friend. This monument erected by his afflicted widow affords a very inadequate testimony of his endearing worth and of her enduring affection.

(Below on a separate plaque)

Also to the memory of Margaret widow of the above Wallop Brabazon Esq. and daughter of William Crane Esq. She was married 17th Nov. 1810 and died 4th Dec. 1864, aged 75. Her remains lie in the catacombs in Kensal Green cemetery. Of her twelve children nine survive who mourn the loss of a most tender and devoted mother.

 

Brabazon (Elizabeth Jane)

This tablet is erected to the memory of Elizabeth Jane Brabazon of Rath House, who died at Nice 19th March 1903, aged 74. She left liberal offerings for this parish including two thousand pounds for the erection of the present church tower and spire. All her bequests being to the glory of God, and in memory of her father the Rev. William Brabazon, her eldest brother Dupre Alexander Brabazon and herself. “Lord, I have loved the habitation of Thy house.” Ps. xxvi






Brabazon (Revd. William)

In loving memory of Revd. William Brabazon late rector of Sydden, Co. Meath and of Rath House in this parish. Born 6th May 1798. Died 13th Sept. 1882. And of Georgina, his wife. Born 10 August 1800. Died 29th Sept 1884. This tablet is erected in sure & certain hope of a happy reunion by their surviving son and daughter. (Brass)

 

Brabazon (Jane Du Pre, first wife of Wallop)

In a vault near this church lie the remains of Jane, wife of Wallop Brabazon, of Rath, Esqre. She was daughter of the late Josias Du-Pre, of Wilton-Park, in Buckinghamshire, Esqre. She was born on Saturday the 9th of May, 1769, was married on Saturday the 19th of March, 1796 and departed this life at Hung Road, near Bristol, on Friday the 21st of Novr 1800, aged 31 years & 6 months, leaving two sons and two daughters.   





Brabazon (Anthony & wife Mary Donagh)

Near this lie the remains of Anthony Brabazon of Carstown Esqr. who died the 6th of July 1771 aged 72. He married Mary daughter of Phillip Donagh Esqr. who erected this monument of her love & regard to his memory. Captain James Brabazon father of the sd Anthony married Mary daughter of Henry Colley of Castle Carberry Esqr. He was 6th son of James Brabazon the second son of Sr Anthony Brabazon, brother to the First Earl of Meath. Also in the same tomb lie the remains of Mary relict of the aforesaid Anthony. She departd this life the 15th day of July 1793 aged 84 years.



Plate 1: The monument of Anthony Brabazon and his wife Mary.


Hawkshaw 

To the memory of Thomas Hawkshaw, late of the 5th regt of foot who died 22d Jan 1793 aged 42 years. Also to the memory of his son John William, Lieut in the 90th regt. Born 11th Octr 1785, and died 14th Novr 1812. And of his son Thomas, who was born 9th Decr 1788 and died in 1802. And of his son Wallop Brabazon Hawkshaw, late Lieut of the Vigo man of war, who was born 30th June 1790, and died 30th Septr 1813. Captain Thomas was son to the Revd. John Hawkshaw of the Co. of Monaghan. His widow Vincentia, daughter of Wallop Brabazon Esqr, has erected this monument to the memory of her husband and all her offspring. Also to the memory of Vincentia, widow of the above Captain Hawkshaw. She died 1st Feby 1825, aged 78. 

 

McClintock

Sacred to the memory of Alexander McClintock of Newtown House Esq. who died Dec. 14th 1796 aged 50 years. And Mary his wife, daughter of Samuel Perry of Perrymount, Co. of Tyrone Esq., who died Feby 9th 1817 aged 55 years. In the same vault in the adjoining churchyard are also deposited the remains of Jane their eldest daughter, relict of Henry Bird Esq. Major of the 18th or RI regt of infantry, who died April 22nd 1811 aged 28 years. And of her infant son Henry who died Octbr 7th 1810 aged 9 months. Also the remains of Maria Catherine their second daughter who died Augt 20th 1837 aged 46 years. Also the remains of Jane, wife of Samuel McClintock Esq. their second son. She was the third daughter of Col. L. Lane of the Honble E.I. Compys Service and died Novbr 21st 1837 aged 36 years. Her son Alexander who died August 15th 1822 aged 5 months rests beside her.   

 

Pentland (George)

To the memory of George Pentland Esqr of Black Hall in this parish who died on the 17th of August 1834 aged 64 years. And to Mary his wife who died on the 24th of September 1832 aged 55 years. Also to Robert their eldest son who died on the 5th of September 1832 aged 36 years.




Plate 2: The Pentland monument.


Pentland (George Henry)

To the memory of George Henry Pentland of Black Hall who died 20th June 1882 aged 82 years. He married firstly Rebecca, eldest daughter of Wallop Brabazon of Rath House who died 22nd Oct 1844, leaving one daughter. And secondly Sophia Mabella, second daughter of the Revd. Alexander Johnstone Montgomery of Beaulieu who died 17th August 1897, leaving four sons and two daughters by whom this tablet is erected in loving memory of their parents. (Brass)


Pentland (Augustus)

In memory of our beloved brother Augustus Tichborne Pentland died 5th June 1900, aged 43 years. (Brass)


HERALDRY IN TERMONFECKIN PARISH


As a system, heraldry arose in the early twelfth century in response to the need for a means of identifying knights in the battlefield; they were clad in mail (body armour) from head to toe. The term coat of arms usually refers to the device on the shield but also recalls the practice of repeating this on the surcoat worn over the armour (Crotty 1997, 6).


After medieval times heraldry lost its practical use, nevertheless families illustrated their importance and kinship with influential families through heraldry. Termonfeckin parish is endowed with heraldry mainly in St Fechin’s church and in the adjoining graveyard

. There are also coats of arms of interest in Carstown House.


Heraldry in the church:

Four of the monuments in the church bear coats of arms. The first to Alexander McClintock (of Newtown House) bears the McClintock crest (a lion) above the inscription. The McClintock and Perry impaled coat of arms and the McClintock motto are beneath the inscription. An impaled coat of arms has the husbands arms appearing on the dexter side (left to the viewer), while the arms on the sinister side (right to the viewer) are for the wife. In this case the dexter side has the McClintock arms (containing three escallops) and the sinister side has the Perry arms (containing three crowns) as shown in plate 3 for Alexander McClintock and his wife Mary Perry. The McClintock motto is Virtute et labore (By valour and exertion).



Plate 3: The McClintock and Perry coat of arms.

The Perry estates of Seskinore and Moyloughmore (Perrymount) Co Tyrone on the death of George Perry devolved to Samuel McClintock (his nephew), through his sister, Mary Perry, wife of Alexander McClintock. The Perry arms are not exactly those given by Burke (1871, 840) where a rose at Termonfeckin replaces the fleur-de-lis. The Perry arms are described as ‘azure, a fleur-de-lis argent, between three crowns, or’ (Burke 1871, 840). The correct arms can be seen on the village hall at Seskinore in the form of the quartered arms of McClintock and Perry as shown in plate 4. The McClintock heraldry at Drumcar and Castlebellingham churches is discussed in detail in Bellew (2005, 134-9). Alexander McClintock was uncle of John McClintock (1769-1855) of Drumcar who in turn was father of John, first Lord Rathdonnell.




Plate 4: The McClintock and Perry coat of arms at Seskinore.

The other three monuments in the church of heraldic interest are connected through the Brabazon family. The monument to Wallop Brabazon and his wife Margaret Crane, has the impaled arms of Brabazon (containing three martlets) and the arms of Crane (containing three crosses). The Brabazon crest (a falcon) is above the coat of arms, while the family motto Vota vita mea (Prayers are my life) is beneath the coat of arms. The coat of arms also has a crescent, a mark of cadence indicating a second son. This impaled shield is shown in plate 5. The monument in the porch, to Elizabeth Brabazon has the family coat of arms, crest and motto. The final monument of heraldic interest in the church is to Captain Thomas Hawkshaw husband of Vincentia Brabazon. Beneath the inscription lies the Hawkshaw crest and coat of arms (shown in plate 6). Thomas was the son of John Hawkshaw who was Rector of Monaghan (1740-59).



Plate 5: The Brabazon and Crane coat of arms.




Plate 6: The Hawkshaw coat of arms.


Heraldry in the Churchyard:

There are two stones of heraldic interest in the graveyard. The first is the Dillon headstone for Michael Eric, 20th Viscount Dillon, who died in 1979. The photograph of the headstone was shown in this review (Quaile 2003, 11). The arms on the headstone are those of Dillon quartered with those of Lee as shown in plate 7, also included are the Viscount’s coronet and the Dillon crest and motto ‘Dum spiro spero’ (‘While I live, I shall hope’). Charles 12th Viscount of Costello, Gallen, Co Mayo joined the State Church in 1767 and assumed the name and arms of Lee (Cox 2000, 85). He was the son of Henry Dillon, 11th Viscount and of Lady Charlotte Lee, eldest daughter and heiress of George 2nd Earl of Lichfield. The 20th Viscount, bought Rath House in the 1950s and he changed the family name back to Dillon. The family sold Rath House in 1981.




Plate 7: The Dillon and Lee coat of arms. 



The older Dillon Headstone


The Dillon Headstone erected after 2008

The second stone of interest, near the east window of the church is that belonging to Edward Kerr of Termonfeckin. Edwards wife, Mary died in 1799 and their daughter, Sarah died in 1816 (Quaile 2003, 17). Above the inscription is a coat of arms and crest. On either side of the shield are the words Anno Domini and the date 1793. The coat of arms is now very worn but it appears to be divided into four quarters and it is reasonably clear in the first and fourth quarters (top left-hand and bottom right-hand quarters) that we have three mascles (diamond shapes with a hole in their centre). The second and third quarters are unclear.


The Termonfeckin Kerr arms resemble those of Ker of Sesfuirde, Scotland, at least in the first and fourth quarters. These arms (shown in plate 8) are anciently recorded in Scotland given in Sir David Lindsays Armorial in 1542 cited in the website given below. The quarters with the mascles are for the Weapont family, obviously an ancient family that the Ker (Scottish spelling) family married into. As the second and third quarters at Termonfeckin are worn, we are not sure if they match the corresponding quarters of Ker of Sesfuirde. These quarters each contain a chevron with three mullets, this is one of the Kerr coat of arms. Whether Edward Kerr of Termonfeckin was entitled to carry these or similar arms is unclear. The crest at Termonfeckin appears to be the head of an animal possibly a unicorns head matching a commonly used Kerr crest.




Plate 8: The coat of arms of Ker of Sesfuirde.

By kind permission of Stephen Plowman for the use of the Kerr photograph from his website (heraldry-online.org.uk),

Heraldry in Carstown:

The house at Carstown dates from the seventeenth century. Casey and Rowan (1993, 182-4) note that the building is a rare survival of an Irish manor house, which followed the late medieval tower houses of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. They also note the presence of two coats of arms, one above the entrance (this is internal as there is no coat of arms on the outside of the house) and the other above the principle chimneypiece, both of which bear the date 1612 and the initials O.P. and K.H., which are identified as Oliver Plunkett and his wife Katherine Hussey, daughter of James Hussey of Galtrim. Oliver Plunketts father, Alexander was the sixth son of Oliver, first Lord Louth. The house is not accessible at the moment but the coats of arms were previously recorded by Fitzgerald (1906, 586-7) and by Tempest (1943, 219-21).


In 1899 Revd John Segrave, Parish Priest of Termonfeckin, took a rubbing from a sculptured stone in a very massive limestone chimney-piece in the dining room of Carstown House (Fitzgerald 1906, 586). The rubbing has the inscription IHS and the initials O.P. and K.H appearing above the coat of arms, a photograph of Segrave’s rubbing from Fitzgerald’s article is shown in plate 9. There is also a decorative feature between both initials. The impaled coat of arms of Plunkett and Hussey is within a decorative wreath. Fitzgerald also notes the legend in two lines under the arms as follows:


IN DMNO

CONFIDO 1612




Plate 9: The Plunkett and Hussey coat of arms on the chimneypiece at Carstown.


The second impaled coat of arms recorded by Tempest is also that of Plunkett and Hussey. The letters IHS and the date 1612 are above the arms while the initials O.P. and K. H. are on either side. As in the previous case, the arms are within a decorative wreath. Tempest’s (1943, 220) drawing is similar to the image on one of the photographs from his collection. The photograph (shown in plate 10) now with Noel Ross shows a rubbing of the impaled coat of arms and the other features just described. 

For whatever reason Tempest appears to confuse the two coats of arms. He states that his drawing was from the room to the left of the hall, on the massive stone mantle over the fireplace, but his drawing and photograph are different from Segrave’s rubbing. However he goes onto note that the same arms are carved over the Hall door. Casey and Rowan (1993, 183) note the massive limestone chimneypiece that is 9 feet wide and 5 feet high. They also point out that the chimneypiece lintel has five joggled joints and that the sculpted plaque of 1612 is on the central keystone. Tempests drawing appears to be that of the coat of arms over the hall door.




Plate 10: The Plunkett and Hussey coat of arms over the Hall door at Carstown.


BIBLIOGRAPHY


County Louth Archaeological and Historical Journal abbreviated to C.L.A.H.J.

Journal of the Association for the Preservation of the Memorials of the Dead, Ireland

abbreviated to JAPMDI.


Bellew, S.         2005    ‘McClintock Inscriptions and Heraldry at Drumcar, C.L.A.H.J.,

xxvi, 1, 134-39.

Burke, B.         1871    A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry of

Great Britian and Ireland, London.

Burke, B.         1884    General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales,   

London.

Casey, C. and  1993    North Leinster, London.

    Rowan, A.

Crotty, G.         1997    Heraldry in Ireland, Part One, Irish Roots, Issue No. 21, 6-7.

Cox, L.            2000    ‘The Dillons, Lords of Kilkenny West: Part One’, Ríocht na 

Mídhe, xiv, 71-87.

Fitzgerald, W.   1906    ‘Carstown House, Parish of Termonfeckin’, JAPMDI, vi, 3, 586-7.

Quaile, D.         2003    ‘Termonfeckin Graveyard Inscriptions’, Termonfeckin Historical

Society Review, iii, 5-36.

Tempest, H.G.  1943    ‘Two Fireplace Inscriptions 1584 and 1612’, C.L.A.J., x, 3, 216-21.


Website                      http://heraldry-online.org.uk/kerr/kerr-arms.htm


APPENDIX 1: HERALDIC TERMS


The reader is referred to the General Armory for more technical definitions.


Tinctures: gules = red, or = gold, sable = black, vert = green, argent = silver, azure = blue,

a bend is a diagonal bar,

a chevron is a rafter shape,

a cross fitchée is a particular type of cross as shown on the Crane coat of arms (plate 5), 

an escallop is a shell,

an estoile is a star shape

a fess is a horizontal bar,

a lion rampant is a lion standing on his back paws

per pale means the coat of arms is split in half with one colouring on the left and another on the right.


APPENDIX 2: FAMILY COATS OF ARMS


All the coats of arms are taken from the General Armory (Burke 1884). The page numbers are not given as the names are listed in alphabetic order in the General Armory.


Brabazon:        Gules on a bend or, three martlets sable. Crest: On a mount vert a falcon rising or, belled gold.

Crane:             Argent a fesse between three crosses crosslet fitchée gules.

Dillon:             Argent a lion rampant between three crescents gules overall a fess azure. Crest: A demi lion rampant gules holding in the paws an estoile wavy or.

Lee:                 Argent a fess between three crescents sable.

McClintock:    Per pale gules and azure a chevron ermine between three escallops argent. Crest: A lion passant argent.

Hawkshaw:     Argent a chevron gules between three hawks heads erased proper each gorged with a ducal coronet or. Crest A hawks head erased and gorged as in the arms.

Hussey:           Barry of six ermine and gules, on a canton gules, a cross or.

Plunkett:         Sable, a bend argent in sinister chief a tower triple-towered argent.


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS


Thanks to Mrs Juliet Lush for access to the church to carry out the transcriptions, to Stephen Plowman for the use of the Kerr photograph from his website (heraldry-online.org.uk), to Gerard Crotty for his help with some of the heraldic detail and finally to Noel Ross for access to Walter Fitzgerald’s article and for permission to reproduce H.G. Tempest’s photograph.

Additional Photographs
                                                 

                                          The Kain gravestone carved by Patrick Corrigan







Sunday 16 November 2014

Heraldry in Tuam Cathedral (Assumption)


Heraldry in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Tuam

Originally an Article in JOTS 2009 (Journal of the Old Tuam Society)

The town of Tuam has its share of heraldry associated mainly with its two cathedrals. The heraldry in the Cathedral of the Assumption occurring mainly on the east window represents those associated with its building. The families involved are identified and discussed. The practice of heraldry dates back to Norman times when knights were clad in armour in battle and they put on a mail over the armour to distinguish between opposing armies in battle. This is a kin to modern hurling or football teams wearing jerseys so that team mates can easily identify each other and their opponents. The knights had various designs or patterns thus began the practice of heraldry and coats of arms. Later on heraldry took on a less practical use but it continued to be used by leading families to highlight their importance or their network of influential relationships in their local community.  

 

The Cathedral of the Assumption was built through the efforts of Archbishop Oliver Kelly (1815-34) who called a meeting on 18 March 1827 to discuss the possibility of building a new cathedral for the diocese. The meeting was held in Tuam’s first post-reformation Catholic Church built in 1783, and the decision was made to build a cathedral (Waldron, Tuam Herald). The foundation stone was laid on 30 April 1829. Archbishop Kelly lived to see the cathedral roofed and all but finished by the time of his death in 1834. Because it was not ready for use, Archbishop John MacHale (1791-1881) was enthroned in the old pro-cathedral. He supervised the construction of the tower and dedicated the completed cathedral on 18 August 1836 (Claffey, page 7). On the tower the arms of the Archbishopric of Tuam impale those of Hale or MacHale. It was common for bishops not to register their arms, Archbishop MacHale is not listed in the Armory as bearing arms but the arms that are on the tower are those of the Hale family of Alderley in Gloucester. The following inscription is also on the tower ‘IN HONOREM B.V.M. ASSUMPTAE ERECTAM DEDICAVIT DIE XVIII AUGUSTI A.D. MDCCCXXXVI JOANNES MACHALE ARCHIEPUS TUAMEN CATHEDRAM ISTRAM’.

 
 
Kelly Coat of Arms
 
 
MacHale (Hale) Coat of Arms
 


The East window referred to as the ‘great oriel’ window by Waldron portrays in centre the Virgin Mary with the child Jesus and also portrays the four evangelists with their insignia. Above these lie the arms of some of the subscribers to the cathedral. The window was made in Dublin and bears the date 1832. It is an early work of Michael O’Connor (1801-67) who began work as a heraldic artist (Claffey, page 24). O’Connor was an important figure in the early days of the gothic revival in stained glass working with such eminent figures as Pugin and Butterfield. He set up studio in Dublin and subsequently moved to London where his career was prematurely cut short by blindness but his sons continued the work (Lawrence, page 186). Waldron also noted that the window was badly damaged on the night of the ‘Great Wind’, 5 January 1839. The ten coats of arms on the window are namely from left to right, St George, Kirwan, Bellew, Browne, Tuam Archdiocese, Kelly, Talbot, Handcock, Maxwell and Burke. The Maxwell arms have been previously attributed to Newell. Most of the families were donors, some chose to remain anonymous and it is possible that some of the arms belong to them. The arms of Kelly represent Archbishop Kelly; Waldron describes the project of building a cathedral as his ‘magnum opus’. Beside the Kelly arms are the arms of the archdiocese surmounted by the archbishop’s hat and tassels. The heraldry allows us to identify some of the families not specifically listed as donors. The coats of arms are illustrated for ease of understanding of the heraldic terms.

 

 
 
East 'Oriel' Window at Tuam


St George and French


The St George coat of arms while named does not necessarily allow us to identify the particular family, the heraldry where the St George arms are quartered with those of French allows us identify the family as that of St George of Tyrone House near Clarinbridge. A quartered coat of arms usually has the arms of the husband in the first and fourth quarters and those often of an heiress in the second and third quarters. Arthur French of Tyrone married (1736) Olivia, eldest daughter of John Usher and Mary St. George, only daughter and heiress of George St. George, 1st Baron St. George of Hatley, Co Leitrim. Arthur died on 8 May 1779 and was succeeded by his eldest son, Christopher French of Tyrone, (born 1754) who in 1774 assumed the surname of St. George in pursuance of a direction contained in a settlement made by his grandfather, Baron St. George. He married in 1778 Anne, daughter of Henry Bingham of Newbrook. Their son Arthur French St George of Tyrone (1780-1844) married in 1801 Harriet St Lawrence and in 1811 the surname of St George was exemplified to Arthur French Esq. of Tyrone, on his assuming by royal license, the surname and arms of St George in lieu of French (Burke 888). This identifies the Tuam window as belonging to the St George (French) family of Tyrone House.

 
 
Arms of St George and French


Bellew and Dillon

The Bellew coat of arms at Tuam is impaled, this where the husband’s arms appear on the left hand side as viewed (dexter in heraldic terminology) and the wife’s arms appear on the right hand side (sinister). Christopher Dillon Bellew of Mountbellew who died in 1826 was particularly keen to cultivate an alliance with high profile figures working in the Catholic cause – a policy that his successors continued, culminating with a joint visit to Mountbellew by Daniel O’Connell and Archbishop John MacHale. Generous patronage on the church was in keeping with the paternalistic attitude and won the favour of Archbishop Kelly (Clarke, page 12). Michael Dillon Bellew, son of Christopher is listed by Waldron as one of the donors towards the cathedral. Michael Dillon Bellew was married to Helena Dillon, the eldest daughter of Thomas Dillon of Mount Dillon, Dublin and Eadestown, Co Kildare thus explaining the impaled coat of arms.


 
 
Arms of Bellew and Dillon


Handcock

Archbishop Kelly procured the site for the new Cathedral between St Jarlath’s College and the residence (later the Presentation Convent) of Mr. William Burke. The landlord was William Henry Handcock of Carrowntryla near Dunmore who owned much property in Tuam (Waldron). The site was obtained, initially on a rental basis from Handcock and on 10 February 1830 he agreed to a lease at a yearly rent of one shilling. In the Landed Estates website, Patrick Melvin notes that Carrowntryla was originally a Burke property, which was sold in 1753 to Anne Henry (widow of Hugh Henry, a Dublin banker, who died in 1743). It then passed to William Henry whose only daughter, Anne, married William Handcock in 1802. Both William Handcock's father and grandfather were clergymen (Landed Estates website). William Handcock married Anne Henry as his second wife, in October 1802. As he was a man of no fortune the Henry family opposed her right to the estate under the terms of the will. Handcock took the case through Chancery to the House of Lords. He achieved success in 1816 thus establishing the Handcocks at Carrowntryla. Anne died on 20 August 1818 leaving five children with William (Linley website). William Henry Handcock married Catherine Josephine Kelly and left 3 daughters at the time of his death in 1842 (Landed Estates website).

 

 
                                                                     Arms of Handcock

Browne


The Browne coat of arms is easily attributed to the Marquess of Sligo as the arms are for the Browne family and the coronet for a Marquess is also present. Waldron notes that in 1828 Archbishop Kelly sent Fr Nicholson to open an office in London and solicit subscriptions. Some of the amounts received through him were: Marquis of Sligo, £50; the Duke of Sussex, £10; Directors of the Bank of England, £25 also subscriptions from the Bishop of Norwich and the Marquis of Clanricarde, amounts not stated. Howe Peter Browne (1788-1845) of Westport House succeeded as 2nd Marquess of Sligo in 1809. He was married to Lady Hestor, sister to Ulick De Burgh, 1st Marquess of Clanricarde.


 

                                                 Arms of Browne (Marquess of Sligo)
Burke

The Burke coat of arms has no name beneath it; most likely the window honours William Burke of Corralea House, Tuam who died in 1834. He bequeathed much of his wealth to various charities thus enabling the Mercy and Presentation Sisters to establish convents adjoining the cathedral. He was also the subject of one of the statues in the church. Since the sculptor, Sir Thomas Farrell (1827-1900), had no likeness of William Burke on which to model his work, Tuam-born, Thomas H. Burke, then under secretary at Dublin castle acted as a model (Claffey, page 24). The statue now outside has a Latin inscription that recognises that William Burke donated ‘Corraghleach’ and is dated 1873. The absence of a coronet probably means that this window was not intended for Ulick John De Burgh, the Marquess of Clanricarde who was also noted by Waldron as a generous benefactor.



                                                               Arms of Burke
 

Talbot

The Talbot coat of arms is easily attributed to the Earl of Shrewsbury as his name appears beneath the window and the coronet for an earl lies above the coat of arms. With the succession of John Talbot in 1827 to his uncle’s title and property as 16th Earl of Shrewsbury and Waterford came immediate responsibility to Catholic missions historically supported by the family. He was the acknowledged leader of lay Catholicism in England (O’Donnell, page 11-12). He generously donated towards church building in England and in this country.


 


Maxwell (with Haggerston, Constable and Herries)


The Maxwell window at Tuam is a fine example of how heraldry can carry part of the family history in its coat of arms. The coat of arms has the Maxwell arms in the 1st and 4th quarters, the arms of Constable in the 2nd quarter and has those of Haggerston in the 3rd quarter. William Haggerston of Haggerston Castle (Northumberland) married Ann, daughter of Sir Philip Constable, 3rd baronet of Everingham in Yorkshire. Their grandson, William Haggerston assumed the name Constable upon inheriting Everingham. In 1758 he married Lady Winifred Maxwell, only child of John Maxwell, Earl of Nithsdale. Their son was Marmaduke William Constable (1760-1819). Upon his mother’s death in 1801, Marmaduke inherited the Maxwell property of Carlaverock (Drumfrieshire) and he assumed by royal license the additional surname of Maxwell (Burke, 327-8). Their son was William Constable Maxwell (1804-76) of Carlaverock and Everingham Park who became 10th Lord Herries of Terrgles (near Drumfries). He was responsible for building the Italianate Catholic chapel next to the house at Everingham. It was built by him in 1839 to celebrate Catholic Emancipation and he was likely to be a generous supporter towards Tuam.


 


                                    Arms of Maxwell (& Herries), Constable and Haggerston
 
The Maxwell arms in the 1st and 4th quarters are also interesting for they illustrate aspects of Scottish heraldry. Robert, 6th Lord Maxwell (who died in 1552) bore the Maxwell arms of a black (sable) saltire. His grandson, Robert, 10th Lord Maxwell (who died in 1646) or Earl Nithsdale bore the double-headed eagle with the saltire as inescutcheon ‘en surtout’ (superimposed) as it is displayed on the window at Tuam. In Scottish heraldry the inescutcheon ‘en surtout’ is the principal coat. The latter Robert’s sister, Elizabeth married John, 6th Lord Herries and their son, John 7th Lord Herries succeeded his cousin as 3rd Earl Nithsdale. He bore the same arms as his uncle, Robert 10th Lord Maxwell but now differenced with an urcheon (hedgehog) from Herries, his mother’s arms (McAndrew, page 391).
Kirwan
The arms of Kirwan are probably due to the work of James Kirwan of Gardenfield. Not alone did he work on the masonry in the Cathedral but he sourced all the materials himself save the scaffolding (Claffey, page 11). Claffey also notes that one of the finer features of the cathedral is its superbly-cut limestone ashlar that is to the eternal credit of Kirwan. The family were also landed gentry in the parish, the Gardenfield estate amounting to 1,843 acres was advertised for sale in the Encumbered Estates' Court in April 1854 by James and Robert Kirwan.
 
                                                                  Arms of Kirwan
 
The Arms of Tuam and Neary
 
In the year 2000, the coat of arms of Archbishop Michael Neary was beautifully crafted by Ms Ursula Klinger. The arms are on a 12 by 13 inch cedar and utile piece and were completed using enamels and oil paint by Ms Klinger. The modern arms of the Archdiocese of Tuam are on the dexter side while the personal arms of the Archbishop on the sinister side. The personal arms were used by him as Auxiliary Bishop. The modern arms of the Archdiocese bear the cross and broken wheel. The broken wheel is a reminder of the providential ‘breakdown’ of St Jarlath’s chariot as he journeyed through Tuam. The Book of Lismore provides a dialogue between St Brendan of Clonfert and St Jarlath, where Brendan interpreted a dream for Jarlath to go and build a community wherever his chariot wheel broke down (Claffey, page 5). The rays under the crossbeam symbolise the grace and light flowing from the cross of Christ. In common with Cardinal Brady and other Irish bishops, Archbishop Neary has adapted his existing family arms, in his case those of Neary and Gibbons to evoke Christian symbolism on his arms.
 
Arms of Tuam
 
 
Arms of Tuam (Modern) and Neary
 
The Neary and Gibbons arms each bear three annulets (rings). Two of the rings are transformed to represent the ancient Christian symbols, the sun representing Christ, the light of world and the moon representing the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Church. The central ring is an emblem of the wedding band of gold and its promise of fidelity. The Archbishops arms also reflect his family’s closeness and contribution to the Marion Shrine at Knock. The Marian theme is also central to the coat of arms where the Marian monogram (MR) at the base of the shield symbolises Mary, the Mother of God drawing the faithful towards her son. The monogram along with the lamb on the chief of the shield further develops this theme. The presence of the lamb at the apparitions at Knock evokes the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world and in turn draws our minds to the centrality of the sacrament of reconciliation at Knock. Above the coat of arms is the galero or archbishop’s hat with ten tassels draped on either side of the coat of arms. Behind the coat of arms lies the archiepiscopal cross.
 
The monument in the porch remembers the four Archbishops who are interred in the Cathedral: John MacHale (1831-81), John MacEvilly (1881-1902), John Healy (1903-18) and Thomas Gilmartin (1918-39). It also remembers the two most recently deceased Archbishops who are interred in the Cathedral grounds namely: Joseph Walsh (1940-69) who died in 1972 and Joseph Cunnane (1969-87) who died in 2001. The memorials to Archbishop Walsh and Archbishop Cunnane also bear the arms of the archdiocese along with their mottos ‘Dominus Adiutor Meus’ and ‘Familiam Dei Aedificare’ respectively. The monument in the porch along with the memorials outside also bear the galero, tassels and the archiepiscopal cross.
 
 
Arms of Tuam Modern
 
Coats of Arms
 
All the coats of arms apart from the latter two are taken from the General Armory and the page numbers are not given as the names are listed in alphabetic order.
 
Heraldic terms: argent = silver, azure = blue, gules = red, or = gold, sable= black, ermine is a type of animal fur, dexter = right (left as viewed by an observer) and sinister = left (right as viewed). Some of the other heraldic terms are technical and the photographs serve as a pictorial illustration.
Bellew             Sable, fretty or.
Browne           (Marquess of Sligo) Sable three lions passant in bend argent between two double cottises argent.
Burke             (Earl of Clanrickard) Or, a cross gules, in the dexter canton a lion rampant sable.
Dillon              Argent, a lion rampant between three crescents, an estoile issuant from each gules, over all a fess azure.
(Fitz)Gibbon  Ermine a saltire gules on a chief or three annulets or.
(Mac)Hale      Argent a fesse sable, in chief three cinquefoils sable.
Handcock       Ermine on a chief sable a dexter hand between two cocks argent armed.
Herries            Argent three urcheons (hedgehogs) sable.
Kelly               Azure, a tower triple-towered supported by two lions rampant argent as many chains descending from the battlements between the lions’ legs or.
Kirwan           Argent a chevron sable between three Cornish choughs proper.
Maxwell          (Constable-Maxwell, Lord Herries) Quarterly 1st and 4th argent an eagle displayed with two heads sable beaked and membered gules on his breast an escutcheon argent charged with a saltire sable and surcharged with an urcheon or for MAXWELL; 2nd quarterly gules and vair, a bend or for CONSTABLE; 3rd Azure on a bend cotised argent three billets sable for HAGGERSTON.
Neary/Nary    Gules on a fess argent, three spearheads gules, in chief as many annulets or.
St George       (Tyrone House) Quarterly 1st and 4th argent a chief azure, overall a lion rampant gules ducally crowned or for St George; 2nd and 3rd ermine a chevron sable for French.
Talbot             (Earl of Shrewsbury) Gules a lion rampant or, a bordure engrailed or.
Tuam              Azure three figures erect, in the middle the Blessed Virgin with a child in her arms, on the dexter side a mitred abbot, with the dexter hand giving benediction, with the sinister holding a crozier bendwise, on the sinister side St John holding his dexter hand upwards, and in the sinister a lamb, each in proper vestments, all or, hands and feet proper over each of their heads a piece of Gothic architecture or.
The following arms could be blazoned as:
Neary              Per fess gules and azure on a fess of the first fimbriated between in chief a lamb passant and in base the Marian monogram (MR) all argent, an annulet between on the dexter a sun and on the sinister the moon all or. Motto: Fidelis et Misericors
Tuam (modern)
Sable a Latin cross debruised in base by a broken wheel of ten spokes.
Bibliography
General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales
by Bernard Burke, 1884
A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland
by John Burke 1836 
The Cathedral of the Assumption: Tuam
by John A Claffey, 1986.
Christopher Dillon Bellew and his Galway Estates, 1763-1826
by Joe Clarke, 2003.
‘Nineteenth-century stained glass in the Church of Ireland diocese of Limerick & Killaloe’ Irish Architectural and Decorative Studies, The Journal of the Irish Georgian Society, Vol X, pages 132-199.
by David Lawrence, 2007.
 
Scotland’s Historic Heraldry
by Bruce McAndrew, 2006.
 
The Pugins and the Catholic Midlands
by Roderick O’Donnell, 2002.
The History of Tuam Cathedral
by John J. Waldron, Tuam Herald, Saturday 16 November 1968.
 
Websites
for St George and French
 
for Henry and Handcock
 
for Handcock
 
Acknowledgements
 
My thanks to Archbishop Michael Neary and Fr Fintan Monahan at the Archbishop’s House, Tuam for help with the Archbishop’s arms. Dr Tony Claffey (Tuam) provided invaluable advice pertaining to Tuam and Gerard Crotty (Fermoy) likewise in matters heraldic. I would like to acknowledge the kindness and help from the staff at the library in Tuam. Finally many thanks to Anne Tierney and the editorial team of the Old Tuam Society.