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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.

Contents

The Irish Harp

Royal Coat of Arms of Ireland

The Brian Boru harp

The Coat of Arms

See also

References

External links

The Irish Harp

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 as the harp of Brian Boru, High King of Ireland. 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.

Royal Coat of Arms of Ireland

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

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.

The Coat of Arms

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.''

See also

★ Great Seal of the Irish Free State

★ Presidential Seal

★ Presidential Standard

★ Shamrock

References

# The Encyclopedia of Ireland, Brian Lalor, Gill & Macmillan, Dublin 2003.

External links

★ Department of Foreign Affairs - Government of Ireland: Facts about Ireland

★ The Brian Boru Harp

★ Henry VIII Harp Groat - H & I