"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" (?).
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