Offaly -- Úi Failghe (The Faithful County Coat of Arms)
http://www.offalyhistory.com/articles/8/1/Offaly----Ai-Failghe-The-Faithful-County-Coat-of-Arms/Page1.html
By OHAS
Published on 09/1/2007
The principal tincture of colours, used are green, white and gold, th sporting colours of the county. The gold lion symbolises the Úi Failghe, the Laiginian people after whom the county is named. This traditional symbol of the Ui Failghe has been maintained in the coat of arms of the O'Connor family of Offaly. The cross upheld by the lion is reproduced from the Book of Durrow now in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin.
The point in base sable is intended to represent the bogland, the county with a sprig of Andromeda polifolia as an appropriate county flower.The motto Esto Fidelis is suggested by the aliter dictum for the County Offaly - the Faithful County. It would be rendered: Be You Faithful (to the County and its tradition).
Offaly Colours
The Offaly County Colours are Green, White and Gold as worn in photograph by Offaly hurler Joe Dooley.
Offaly Seal (pre-1920)
(Extract from Midland Tribune Centenary Supplement 7th November 1981)
The Offaly County Council owes its seal to Bernard Charles Molloy, nationalist member of parliament for the southern division of the County from 1880 until 1900. Molloy in the latter year found himself on the Healyite wing of the Irish Parliamentary Party and lost his seat to Michael Reddy of Clonmacnoise, a member of the now united Irish party.
The first King's County Council
met in April 1899 taking over the administrative function of the Grand
Jury in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government (Ireland)
Act 1898. The new seal was presented to the council about one year later.
On the seal is depicted a celtic cross at Clonmacnoise with an Irish wolfhound
in front as if to guard it. Behind is a round tower and in the distance
hopeful and inspiring rays of sunlight. The original legend on the seal
consisted of the words "King's County Council AD 1899", but when the name
of the county was altered in June 1920 this was replaced.
It must have been gratifying
to Molloy, who retired from politics after the defeat in 1900, to see
his seal continue in use. Bernard Charles Molloy died in England in June
1916.
Offaly Colours
The Offaly County Colours are Green, White and Gold as worn in photograph by Offaly hurler Joe Dooley.
Offaly Seal (pre-1920)
(Extract from Midland Tribune Centenary Supplement 7th November 1981)
The Offaly County Council owes its seal to Bernard Charles Molloy, nationalist member of parliament for the southern division of the County from 1880 until 1900. Molloy in the latter year found himself on the Healyite wing of the Irish Parliamentary Party and lost his seat to Michael Reddy of Clonmacnoise, a member of the now united Irish party.
The first King's County Council
met in April 1899 taking over the administrative function of the Grand
Jury in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government (Ireland)
Act 1898. The new seal was presented to the council about one year later.
On the seal is depicted a celtic cross at Clonmacnoise with an Irish wolfhound
in front as if to guard it. Behind is a round tower and in the distance
hopeful and inspiring rays of sunlight. The original legend on the seal
consisted of the words "King's County Council AD 1899", but when the name
of the county was altered in June 1920 this was replaced.
It must have been gratifying
to Molloy, who retired from politics after the defeat in 1900, to see
his seal continue in use. Bernard Charles Molloy died in England in June
1916.I wonder where the seal
is now!