The Irish coat of arms is a heraldic design employed by members of a family to show their great pride in their clan and family heritage. Coats of arms were part of Norman and northern European practices and did not become traditionally used among Irish families until after the English invasion of Ireland in the 12th century. Family crests are comparable to modern day gang colors and showed you were part of a specific clan or region. They were also utilised in warfare to tell friends from opponents, to act as a rallying point and a token of what they were struggling for.
View More Symbols Used on Irish Family Crest