NORTHERN IRELAND CURRENT

ANTRIM AND NEWTOWNABBEY BOROUGH COUNCIL

ARMS: No further information currently available.
CREST: No further information currently available.
SUPPORTERS: No further information currently available.

Motto 'IN PROSPERIATATEM COMMUNEM' - Achieving Prosperity Together.
Granted .

The Borough of Antrim and Newtownabbey was formed on the 1 April 2015, by the amalgamation of the Borough of Antrim and the Borough of Newtownabbey.

antrim and newtownabbey bc arms

The arms include the Barbican Gate of Antrim Castle that featured in the former arms of Antrim BC, with blue and white waves in the base alluding to Lough Neagh and Six-Mile-Water. The water-wheel represents the textile industry and the bezants imply wealth and prosperity. The cogwheels with gold drops represent further industrial connections and are taken from the former arms of Newtownabbey BC.
The red eagle in the crest is taken from the arms of the Pakenham and de Courcy families; it is rising from a mural crown as the phoenix did in the former crest of Newtownabbey. In its beak is the red hand from the arms of the O’Neills, and with one foot it is holding a windsock, alluding to the strong aviation history in the local area and to the airport.
The supporters are a stag from the old arms of Antrim and the black griffin of Grimshaw from the arms of Newtownabbey. They are standing in a field of barley, representing the rural areas, and clutching respectively a representation of the Antrim Round Tower and the Mossley Mill Chimney.


ARDS AND NORTH DOWN BOROUGH COUNCIL

*ARMS: Per saltire Argent and barry wavy Argent and Azure in chief an Eagle displayed Gules and in base a Cross Moline Sable.
*CREST: On a Wreath Or and Gules in front of a Lymphad Or with a Sail Argent charged with a dexter Hand couped Gules three Fleurs-de-Lys and two Crescents Azure.
*SUPPORTERS: On either side a Dolphin Azure finned Or each supporting a Pastoral Staff of the last.

Motto 'FIDELIS ATQUE FORTIS' - Faithful and Brave.
Granted 2016?.

The Borough of Ards and North Down was formed on the 1 April 2015, by the amalgamation of the Borough of Ards and the Borough of North Down.

ards and north down bc arms

The arms are composed of elements from the arms of the two former Boroughs. Like the Borough of Ards the shield is divided diagonally in the shape of St. Andrew's cross and what is popularly known as St. Patrick's cross. This partition alludes to the Scottish origin of the Montgomerys also to the Charter of 1613 granted to the Town of Newtownards by King James I. The eagle is that of the de Courcys who invaded Ulster in the twelfth century. John de Courcy built the castle round which Newtownards developed. The black cross moline is from the heraldry of the Colvilles. The white and blue waves are from the arms of the Borough of North Down and ultimately the previous Borough of Bangor. They show that Bangor is a seaside town, but are appropriate to the whole of the new Borough's coastline.
The ship, like those in the North Down arms, feature the Red Hand of Ulster on their sails, to denote that the area is a coastal district in the Province of Ulster. The fleurs-de-lys, like those in the Ards arms, are from the shield of the Montgomerys, Earls of Mount-Alexander; Sir Hugh Montgomery came into the Newtownards Priory property in 1608. The crescents are also from the heraldry of the Montgomerys.
The supporting dolphins, further signify the Borough's links with the sea. Like the North Down supporters they support crosiers in allusion to the two monastic foundations associated with Newtownards - Movilla Abbey, said to have been founded by St. Finian in 540, and the Priory founded by Walter de Burgh in the thirteenth century. The crosiers also link to Bangor's crest with its figure of a haloed St Comgall, founder of the town's abbey, who was an important figure in the spread of Christianity.
The motto, used by Ards, is adapted from that of the Savages of Portaferry, one of the most ancient of Ulster families.


BELFAST CITY COUNCIL

ARMS: Party per fesse Argent and Azure in chief a Pile Vair and on a Canton Gules a Bell Argent in base a Ship with sails set Argent on Waves of the Sea proper.
CREST: On a Wreath of the Colours a Sea-Horse gorged with a Mural Crown proper.
SUPPORTERS: Dexter a Wolf proper ducally gorged and chained Or sinister a Sea-Horse gorged with a Mural Crown proper.

Motto 'PRO TANTO QUID RETRIBUAMUS' - In return for so much, what shall we give back?
Granted 30th June 1890, to the former City and County Borough of Belfast.

belfast city arms

Although only officially granted in 1890, the arms date back to 1613, when King James I granted Belfast town status. The seal was used by Belfast merchants throughout the 17th century on their signs and trade-coins. It is likely that the bell is an example here of canting heraldry, representing the first syllable of Belfast. A large stained glass window in the City Hall displays the arms, where an explanation suggests that the seahorse and the ship refer to Belfast's significant maritime history and pre-eminence as a seaport. The vair, along with the supporting wolf, are said to be taken from the arms of Sir Arthur Chichester, the founder of Belfast as it exists today, who obtained the city's charter from James I.
The motto is taken from Psalm 116 Verse 12 in the Latin Vulgate Bible and is literally "For so much what shall we repay". The verse has been translated in bibles differently – for example as "What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?". It is also translated as "In return for so much, what shall we give back?".


CAUSEWAY COAST AND GLENS BOROUGH COUNCIL

*ARMS: Per saltire Azure and Or two Anchors in pale the lower reversed Or and in fess two Garbs Gules.
*CREST: On a Wreath Or and Azure a representation of the Giant's Causeway proper thereon in front of a Fountain a Fish hauriant Or.
*SUPPORTERS: On the dexter side a Dragon and on the sinister side an Irish Wolfhound both Azure and each goreged with a Mural Crown Or.

Motto 'INTEGERRIME SERVIRE' - Service with integrity.
Granted 2017?.

The Borough of Causeway Coast and Glens was formed was formed on the 1 April 2015, by the amalgamation of the Borough of Ballymoney, the Borough of Coleraine, the Borough of Limavady and the District of Moyle.

causeway coast and glens bc arms

The division of the shield per saltire is derived from the arms of the Borough of Ballymoney, where it alluded to St. Andrew’s cross, and thence to Ballymoney’s connection with Scotland. The blue sections refer to the sea and sky and gold sections refer to the beaches, dunes, fields of golden wheat, Bushmills’ Distillery and the Broighter Hoard. The four part division can also be seen as referring to the four previous authorities. The wheatsheaves represent agriculture and the harvest, and prosperity more generally. Sheaves where common the arms of Ballymoney, Coleraine and Moyle. The anchors not only have nautical significance, but are also a symbol of hope and of security.
The distinctive Causeway Stones, like those in the arms of the Moyle DC, of course refer to the World Heritage Site at the Giant’s Causeway, which gives the new Borough part of its name. The blue and white heraldic fountain alludes to the ports, harbours, the Altnahinch Dam, the connection to Scotland and water as an important feature of the area in general. The fish refers the Salmon found in River Bann and also featured in the arms of the O’Cahans and the Fishmongers’ Company, having appeared in the arms of Coleraine and Limavady.
The dragon is derived from the supporters of the Coleraine, and here the one dragon makes a gentle reference to the history of the area and its connections to London. The Irish wolfhound relates to Ireland specifically and the mural crowns are a traditional heraldic reference to municipality and to borough status.


MID AND EAST ANTRIM BOROUGH COUNCIL

ARMS: Azure three Towers palewise in bend Or.
CREST: Within a Circlet composed of eight Shuttles [five of which are visible] palewise Or a demi Lion proper armed and langued Gules holding between the paws a Galley Argent sail set and pennon flying Azure.
SUPPORTERS: On the dexter side a Knight vested in Chain Mail and War-Helm proper Surcoat of the colour of flax flowers proper hanging from the waist by a Lanyard a Sword in the exterior hand a Spear also proper and on the sinister side an Irish Kerne or Warrior of the sixteenth century proper vested in a Tunic Gules with Trews Azure and Belt and Brogues of untanned leather proper wearing a Cloak fastened at the neck of the colour of flax flowers proper and supporting with the exterior hand a Halbert [also proper].
*BADGE: Issuant from a Tower Or a demi Lion proper armed and langued Gules holding between the paws a Galley Argent sail set and pennon flying Azure.

Motto 'SIMUL ET DEINCEPS' - Together and Forwards.
Granted December 2018.

The Borough of Mid and East Antrim was formed on the 1 April 2015, by the amalgamation of the Ballymena Borough Council, the Carrickfergus Borough Council and the Larne Borough Council.

mid and east antrim bc arms
mid and east antrim badge
Badge

The three gold towers are a simple reference to the three predecessor authorities, but it also derives from the simple shield design in the arms of the Borough of Ballymena, which had seven such towers in a blue field.
The crest wreath, most often two colours only, but a three coloured example is are used here. The reference is once more to the coming together of three boroughs, and to the words in Ecclesiastes 4:12 “A threefold cord is not quickly broken”. The crest itself is based in large part on that of Carrickfergus, a galley with a lion on the sail, though the shuttles come from the shield of the Borough of Larne (which also had a ship – though a three-masted vessel rather than a medieval galley).
The supporters are derived from the arms of the Borough of Carrickfergus, though in reversed positions. They stand in a stylized landscape with Slemish Mountain in the background and flax flowers in the foreground.


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