ORIGIN AND EXPLANATION OF THE KISSANE FAMILY AND ITS COAT- OF-ARMS

TheO Ciosain or Kissane family is a sept of the MacCarthy Mor, one of the Eoghanachtdynasties that provided the ancient kings of Munster. By the end of the twelfthcentury, the MacCarthy Mor had retreated to the Iveragh Peninsula and SouthKerry where they consolidated their position. On the coast near Killorglin,there is a townland called Ballykissane – BaileUi Ciosan,. This was the original estate or ancestral seat of the clan.

Thename Kissane is the anglicised form of the name O Ciosain. It is derived fromthe Gaelic   word cios meaning tribute or rent. As the name suggests, the family hadresponsibility for collecting tributes or rents due to the MacCarthy Mor, hencetheir adoption of the armorial bearing of that dynasty, but with two subtledifferences. The MacCarthy Mor stag is depicted ‘trippant’- with its right foreleg raised, whereas the O Ciosain   stag isis portrayed statant’ – stationery orstanding on all fours. The crest of the helmet of the MacCarthy Mor is a righthand in armour raised and holding a green lizard, whereas that of the O Ciosainis a green lizard standing atop the helmet.

Thecorrect and proper coat-of-arms of the O Ciosain or Kissane family is a silvershield upon which is depicted a stag stationary with gold antlers and hooves.In heraldic terminology: Úpon a field Ärgenta Stag Stattant Gules and attired Or’. Where the arms is depicted withhelmet and mantling (the cloak that suspends from the helmet and drapes aroundthe shield), the mantling takes the primary colours of the shield, i.e. ‘Gules on Argent’(Red on Silver), and ontop of the helmet, the crest is a lizard vert(green).The family motto is: “Fortiet Fideli Nihil Dificile – for the strong and faithful, Nothing isDifficult”.

Thered stag is the ancient totem of the MacCarthy Mor clan and their septs. Itappears on the arms of other Eoghanacht families as well. It is connected withthe royal chase whereby the legitimacy of an elected king is confirmed when thestag who has entered his realm within days of his election is hunted and slainby the king. In heraldry, the stag represents harmony and its red coloursrepresents military strength and magnanimity. The lizard represents endurance,and its green colours symbolizes hope and loyalty. The silver (or white) colourof the shield represents sincerity. Following Elizabeth’s grant of the title ofEarl of Clancare in the Peerage of Ireland to Donal MacCarthy Mor on 24June1565, the traditional arms were formally registered with theUlster-King-of-Arms in Dublin Castle. The Kissanes adopted their armsaccordingly with the same two differentiations as mentioned above.

DeclanM. Downey, Ph.D. (Cantab), RAH,

UniversityCollege Dublin,

Schoolof History & Archives