- The Governor General of Canada
The contents of this Register are intended for research purposes only. The heraldic emblems found in the Register may not be reproduced in any form or in any media without the written consent of the Canadian Heraldic Authority and/or the recipient.
Patrick Kevin O'Neal
Bushnell, Illinois, United States of America
Grant of Arms, Flags and Badge
April 15, 2022
Vol. VIII, p. 81
[ previous page ]
Blazon
Arms
Or a hand Gules, in the dexter canton a mullet of eight points, a base wavy Azure charged with three barrulets wavy Argent;
Motto
DEXTRA DOMINI EXCELSA;
Symbolism
Arms
This design is inspired by the arms of numerous members of Irish O’Neill families. The red hand refers to an ancient Irish legend according to which, in the race to reach Ulster first and thus gain its crown, an O’Neill warrior cut off his hand and threw it on the shore to outstrip his competitors. The eight-pointed star, as well as the colour blue, are frequently associated with the Virgin Mary. The wavy stripes symbolize the Seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church. The three white stripes further represent the Holy Trinity and the three great North American rivers in Fr. O’Neal’s life and career: the Saint Lawrence, the Mississippi and the Illinois.
Motto
This Latin phrase, signifying “The right hand of the Lord is exalted,” is taken from the Bible (Psalm 118:16) and refers to Fr. O’Neal’s faith as a Roman Catholic priest. Furthermore, it also alludes to the O’Neill legend of the red hand of Ulster.