Carthy Family Crest framed artprint

The Carthy Family Crest framed artprint. Beautifully illustrated. Carefully researched. Uniquely personal.

Whether it’s a gift to celebrate a milestone birthday, a wedding or a housewarming—this piece is an instant heirloom.

Symbolism of the Carthy Family Crest

The Carthy coat of arms is a powerful visual legacy of the ruling dynasty of Desmond and its ancient Irish noble heritage. The red stag on the shield symbolizes natural nobility, vitality, and a profound ancestral connection to the land of Munster. In heraldic tradition, the color red (gules) represents warrior courage, magnanimity, and the steadfast defense of the family’s sovereignty.

Above the shield, the crest depicts a hand holding a lizard, which in heraldry signifies extreme vigilance, swift action, and decisive power to overcome elusive or untrustworthy foes. This martial spirit is embodied in the motto, Fortis, Ferox et Celer, translating to "Strong, Fierce, and Swift." It honors the early chiefs' reputation and their centuries-long resilience against Norman and English expansion.

The absolute earliest records of the Carthy stag don’t actually come from Ireland, but from mainland Europe, where traveling heralds documented the arms of global rulers:

The Wijnbergen Roll (c. 1280): This famous French roll of arms is one of the earliest to attempt to map out Irish rulers, linking the stag imagery heavily to the Munster region.
The Uffenbach Roll (c. 1440): This German heraldic manuscript explicitly depicts a stag on a shield to represent the regional kingdom ruled by the McCarthys.

Notable

historical figures

Cormac Mac Cárthaigh was the first Great King of Desmond and a significant patron of the church and arts, noted for commissioning Cormac’s Chapel on the Rock of Cashel. Fineen Mac Cárthaigh, also known as Finghin of Ringrone, earned lasting renown by defeating the Normans at the Battle of Callann in 1261. Cormac Laidir Mac Cárthaigh, Lord of Muskerry, is closely associated with Blarney Castle and the famous Blarney Stone legend. The Blessed Thaddeus Mac Cárthaigh, known as the “White Martyr of Munster,” underscores the family’s enduring spiritual legacy.

Product details

Ayous wood 0.75″ (1.9 cm) thick frame from renewable forests
Paper thickness: 10.3 mil (0.26 mm)
Paper weight: 189 g/m²
Lightweight & acrylite front protector
Hanging hardware included

No Warehouses. No Waste. Just for you, made to order.

This product is printed especially for you when ordered, one at a time, by royal decree of Mother Nature to keep the realm beautiful. Family Crests Store guarantees your custom treasure meets all EU and USA safety standards.

About the artist

Each coat of arms in the Family Crests Store is an artwork by heraldic artist Éamonn Breathnach. All are carefully researched, drawing from the earliest available records across multiple heraldic archives. Noted for their elegance and attention to detail, these artworks make meaningful gifts for family occasions.