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"Dum Spiro Spero" ("While
I live, I shall hope")
| The arms borne by the Dillons of Costello-Gallen (Viscounts), the Dillons of Kilcornan (Counts Dillon of France), and the Mount Dillon branch appear to be the original Dillon arms (Argent a lion passant). But the Proudstown line has a difference of Argent a lion rampant (passant-standing on all fours and rampant-standing on hind legs). The crests are also different. A possible explanation is that Sir Richard Dillon of Proudstown brought 600 Irish troops to the Battle of Vernuil in 1424, and the Duke of Bedford, then Regent of France, granted Sir Richard and his descendants a Falcon Volant for a crest and the addition of the fess over the lion--for valor he displayed in the battle. It is not presently known if this Dillon's bravery also raised the lion from passant to rampant. (The other crest is a demi lion). The family motto also varies. The Costello-Gallen, Kilcornan, and Mount Dillon branches have "Dum Spiro Spero" ("While I live, I shall hope") but the Proudstown branch is "Auxilium ab Alto" (?). |