Leixlip

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LEIXLIP

County: Kildare

Official blazon

Azure on a point in base barry wavy of four argent and of the first a Viking longship affrontée proper between two salmon leaping respecting each other of the second, on a chief or a rose gules barbed and seeded of the third between in the dexter an antique crown and in the sinister a harp facing to the sinister both sable. Motto: Léim ar aghaidh.

Origin/meaning

The arms were granted to Leixlip Town Commissioners on 1 December, 1989.

The leaping fish stand for the town's name which comes from the Old Norse "Lax Hlaup," which means "salmon leap." This is further emphasised by the motto "Léim ar Aghaidh" which is Irish for "Leap Forward." The boat symbolises the Vikings origins of Leixlip, while the water refers to its position on the confluence of the rivers Liffey and Rye. The latter formed the border of the ancient Kingdom of Meath which is symbolised by the crown. The rose represents the Whytes who owned Leixlip Castle from 1567 until 1728. The right-facing harp stands for Arthur Guinness who set up his first brewery in the town.