----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, June 06, 2002 6:40
AM
Subject: RE: herald
Dear Lisa,
A
coat of arms is property. All rights to its use are vested in the
grantee and the grantee's descendants. This, effectively, means
descendants of the grantee's name. The coincidence of a surname does
not impart or imply any right to arms that have been granted to another.
There is certainly no sucht hing as a coat of arms that can be used by
anyone called McGinty, Gilmore or any other name.
There are certainly unscrupulous people who will
sell anybody something which isc laimed to be the customer's 'family coat of
arms'. While this Office is the State's authority on heraldry, we
are not the heraldry police. It would be up to the person whose arms
have been appropriated to take a civil action. By the nature of
the offence the offended party is seldom aware of what is happening.
There is no reason why Ms McGinty should not decorate her front hall with a
shield of arms to which an unrelated McGinty has ther ights (though it is
unlikely she would wish to do so). If, however, she places them
outside of her house; uses them on her writing paper or in any othe way
uses them as if they were her own, she is certainly wrong to do so. Ms
McGinty can no more use someone else's arms than she can drive away his
motor-car simply because she shares a surname.
If
your are an Irish citizen or resident in Ireland or a person of provable
Irish descent born abroad, you can apply to the Chief Herald for a Grant of
Arms. If you e-mail me your postal address I will arrange to send
you some details of procedures and fees.
I
hope that this is of use to you.
Kind regards,
Fergus Gillespie
Deputy Chief Herald of
Ireland
I am wondering, and perhaps you could tell
me....
I see 'places' on line that offer shields
and coat of arms for clans etc. In fact upon researching my own lines
(McGinty and Gilmore/Gilmour) I am finding different ones. Is there a way
to find out which is authentic and not a sales ploy?
An example is shown here
How do I know what, if any, is the correct
sheild?
Any help appreciated.
Lisa
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