Crest

 

Bruff RFC Crest

Crest As Coat of arms

Larger crest for printing. (JPG Format, 60cm wide @ 300 dpi)

Small crest for use as a graphic or header


“Azure on a bend or between two crosses pattee argent a fleur de lis and a lion passant sable” Many Thanks to Eddie Geoghagan for the correct description.

Approximately 2 years after the foundation of Bruff RFC during the 1969/1970 Season, it was felt that some form of Club Identity should be established, namely a club tie. Several people in the town were approached and eventually a local historian and artist, Mr. Tommy Hannon (now sadly deceased) came to the aid of the club committee.At the turn of 1971 he undertook to design a crest with strictly local connotations to it. He was asked what his fee would be for this task and he stated that he would have it ready in a week for the princely sum of (Wait for it……) a ten shilling note! When he was called on a week later he had a design drawn and coloured on a drawing board. The central feature of the crest was a lion passant and a fleur de lis in black (Sable) on a yellow (or) background. The lion passant on a yellow (or) background or shield was the family crest of the De Lacy family, an old Norman family who had resided at the southern end of the town for nearly three centuries. Having been told that some of the club players came from the surrounding areas like Herbertstown, Knockainey and particularly Hospital, this was denoted on the crest by the addition of two crosses pattee argent (White) placed diagonally on the blue background of the shield.( These symbolising the cross of John, The Knights hospitaller). This completed crest was brought before a club committee meeting and received unanimous approval. Hogan’s of Ballinasloe then produced the first edition of the “Blue Tie”.

A large version of the club crest can be found HERE

A good site for Irish family & local coats of arms, and heraldry information is Eddie Geoghagan’s page HERE