Heraldry

Dublin City Coat of Arms

The Dublin City Coat of Arms is the identifying emblem of the City of Dublin and has been in use in one form or another for at least 400 years.

© Dublin City Council

Dublin City Coat of Arms
© Dublin City Council

Dublin City Coat of Arms

The Dublin City Coat of Arms is the identifying emblem of the City of Dublin and has been in use in one form or another for at least 400 years.

© Dublin City Council

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The Dublin City Coat of Arms is the identifying emblem of the City of Dublin and has been in use in one form or another for at least 400 years.

The full Coat of Arms shows three burning castles on a sheild flanked by two female figures, one holding a scales depicting Justice (without the usual blindfold); the other, a sword, representing Law. Each figure holds an olive branch. Below the shield on a scroll is the motto of the City : 'Obedienta Civium Urbis Felicitas', which translates : 'The obedience of the Citizens produces a happy City'.

You can see the City Coat of Arms above the door of the Mansion House (picture left) and other municipal buildings.

The origin of the Dublin Coat of Arms is unknown : the meanings of the symbols on it obscure - which gives an opportunity for both imaginative and informed speculation.

One theory about the meaning of the three castles is that they were situated in the territory outside the City and used as garrison outposts or watch towers; another, that it is Dublin Castle repeated three times because of the mystical connections of the number three; a third speculates that they may not be castles at all, but the three gates of the old Danish City.

© Dublin City Public Libraries