Irish Coats of Arms may be Worthless

The legality of all Irish coats of arms issued in the past 60+ years is now in doubt. In what has been described as the new 'arms crisis', the National Library has stopped the Office of the Chief Herald from making any further awards due to concerns that it had no legal powers to do so.

The Genealogical Society of Ireland said it was a very embarrassing situation which had been allowed to develop over a long period of time.

The problem dates back to the achievement of independence in 1922. It was assumed that the Irish government could set up an Office of the Chief Herald to assume the British King's "royal prerogative" to issue coats of arms. However, the Genealogical Society of Ireland now has determined that the right to issue arms was not transferred.

The Chief Herald of Ireland has been charging about €3,000, or roughly $4,200 U.S., to obtain a coat of arms. Most Irish coats of arms were sold to Americans of Irish descent. Now it seems that they may not be worth the paper they are printed on.

Details may be found at http://www.independent.ie/national-news/heraldry-office-in-arms-crisis-1166855.html.

Comments

[Dino (All Dino, All the Time)]

Dick,

I have to confess to being a little confused ...

If Ireland acheived independence why aren't they free to issue whatever Coats of Arms they wish?

If the US government wished to start issuing Coats of Arms, I doubt whether they'd need to seek the English monarch's approval to do so.

Or maybe Irish independence isn't the same as American independence.

[Dick Eastman]

I would have assumed the same, Dino. But, as the article says, "the National Library has stopped the Office of the Chief Herald from making any further awards due to concerns that it had no legal powers to do so." I think you and I would have to ask the National Library for details.

[John Travis]

I think what they are saying is that Office of Chief Herald was never given the authority by the Legislature. Being independent, it could do that, but never got around to it, assuming that the authority simply transferred.

[Michael Merrigan]

A Chairde,

For the full background to this situation checkout the website of the Genealogical Society of Ireland http://www.familyhistory.ie under "Genealogy & Heraldry Bill".

Also, there is an extensive article on this situation in the section on "Web Articles".

Kindest regards

Michael Merrigan

[Liam Martin]

Irish Coats of Arms may be Worthless? - All coats of Arms are Worthless!