When President Bill Clinton visited Ireland in December 1995, he received a unique gift: a Patent of Arms rich in symbolism. The lion on the shield represents authority and family names in Clinton’s lineage, while shamrocks commemorate his Irish forebears.
The motto An leon do bheir an chraobh (“the lion-champion who bears away the branch of victory”) comes from an early Irish saga. Clinton was the third American president with Irish roots to be so honoured, underscoring the deep ties between Ireland and the United States.
Reference: NAI/TSCH/2025/115/827
Image: Photograph of Clinton’s Coat of Arms
