Coat of arms of Meath

Mide or Meath, a medieval Irish province, is sometimes represented by a coat of arms comprising a monarch "in majesty": that is, seated on a throne on a field of azure (blue).[1][2] The arms of Mide appear alongside those of the four modern provinces on a 1651 map of Galway. The arms reflect the fact that Tara, the seat of the High King of Ireland, was in Mide.[1] This symbolism is derived from iconography rather than classical heraldry;[1] mediaeval royal seals portrayed a majesty on the obverse and the arms of the sovereign on the reverse. The sceptre, here shown to have six oval nodules, represented power, and the outstretched right hand justice; both of these were royal prerogatives.[1] The old province of Meath is nearly coextensive with the present-day Diocese of Meath. The arms of Meath were apparently used at one time as the arms of Ireland, but with the majesty on a field of sable (black) instead of azure.[1]

Coat of arms
1651 depiction

Meath GAA uses a logo incorporating the arms. The arms of Meath County Council are an unrelated design.[3]

References
  1. Carragin, Eoin (2007-04-18). "Heraldry in Ireland" (PDF). National Library of Ireland. p. 3. Retrieved 2008-03-17.
  2. http://archives.library.nuigalway.ie
  3. "Irish Civic & Regional Coats of Arms". heraldry.ws. Retrieved 2008-03-17.
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