To the Tricolour and Golden flag, the Irish motor racing tifosi can add a new banner of support for their home team - the Jordan coat of arms.
Appropriately emblazoned with four bezants or gold coins, to symbolise both wealth and the wheels of a car, it was presented yesterday to Eddie Jordan, the Formula 1 racing team owner and Irish tourism ambassador who has never been afraid of displaying his Irishness.
"It's very popular to be Irish," he said, noting that his Dublin roots had made him "cheeky and outspoken," helping him a long way towards his success.
While the arms had nothing to represent his gift of the gab, they did include a harp and castle in recognition of his strong links with the capital. Rather than the snake of his team sponsor, they featured two lions wearing collars in the team colour of gold.
Designed by the Office of the Chief Herald of Ireland, the arms also contain a Latin motto, "Fortis in re", meaning "brave or constant in deed".
With both of his cars suffering engine failure in the last Grand Prix nine days ago, the owner could be forgiven for thinking the reference to consistency was a bad joke. Ever the optimist, however, he stressed the team still had an outside chance of winning the driver's championship in what was its best year yet.
As Irish sporting ambassador, he said, he was due to meet the Prime Minister of Malaysia next week ahead of that country's Grand Prix on October 17th. Last week, he attended a function in the Irish embassy in London to promote Ireland as a conference location.
To receive the arms, Mr Jordan had to apply to the Chief Herald, Mr Brendan O'Donoghue, and stump up a £2,200 fee.
Institutions can also apply for a grant of arms, at between £2,500 and £4,000 for local authorities or schools, and £7,000 for corporate bodies. Mr O'Donoghue noted the fee was in many cases significantly less than the cost of a commercially-commissioned logo.
Other holders of coats of arms include President Clinton, Edsel Ford II, the Garda training college in Templemore, the new Tallaght hospital and the Licensed Vintners' Association.
Those entitled to apply include citizens of Ireland, other people normally resident here or who have significant links with the country, and public authorities and other organisations incorporated in Ireland.
A grant of arms does not confer any rank or title but merely the right to "display the arms on shield or banner or otherwise according to the Laws of Arms".
