Red Pollard was the jockey who rode the real Seabiscuit, and although he was not a Conlon, he married one, specifically my father's aunt. I never met him, and even if I had, I'd have been to young to remember, since he died when I was two. Still though, it was fun to go see the movie with family who had known him, and could point out the inaccuracies.
As far as I know, he's the closest thing to a famous Conlon to whom I am directly related.
Other Conlons of fame include the family... uh, Conlon... in "In the name of the Father".Facebook sort of opened my eyes to how many Conlons, and more specifically how many MATT Conlons there are. I belong to a Facebook group named "My Name Is Matt Conlon." There are 28 of us. We like to joke that if we ever had a get together, we wouldn't have to introduce ourselves to anyone, because we'd already know each other's names.
This is our Coat of Arms. It's got a bird of some kind, I think a stork or a pelican and it's pecking itself in the chest and bleeding. Below is a tortoise. What the symbolism is, I have no idea, so if you do, please share!
Do you know any Conlons, real or imagined??
Nope, I know no Conlons... my maiden name is pretty common .. Cindy Lewis. There are hundreds in the US according to one of those name search websites.
ReplyDeleteHi Cindy! Well, I'm pleased to be your first Conlon connection. I'm sure my extended family would be thrilled to know I'm representing them. :D
ReplyDeleteI'll take a look when I have more time but, off the top of my pointy head, I would say the bird is a swan and it is building a nest - I have something bubbling in the back of my brain about a bird pulling feathers to build it's nest mentioned in Shakespeare or other text...Man, I've got to clean out this brain basement, there's a lot of stuff back here...
ReplyDeleteFrom the quick bit I've googled, swans are a symbolic of the arts and the tortoise is one of strength and protection.
I'll get back to you about colour and the like but the knight's head is the sign of a gentleman...so at least you ain't a peasant...that's something...
Gotta go
xxoo
moe
In other cultures a tortoise was a symbol of wisdom (it comes with age, I guess) *shrugs*
ReplyDeleteWhich is almost a contradiction, since the bird is pecking itself to the point of bleeding :-P
Maybe it's not pecking itself, maybe it's tending it's wounds.
~2
Just stumbled across it - not a swan, it is a pelican and there was much medieval/romance symbolism for piety, faithfulness and charity revolving around the idea of the female pelican would pierce her breast to feed her brood in times of famine...
ReplyDeleteAnyway, in the case of your coat of arms it is portrayed as "vulning" which means without the brood and is a symbol of charity...
Now I really gotta go...
xxoo
moe
http://suddenalarm.blaseckie.ca
You're the only Conlon I know. I'm in Ireland at the moment, and we've been visiting a lot of cemeteries. I'll have to keep my eyes out for Conlons.
ReplyDeleteThanks all, good info here! :)
ReplyDeleteDonna, I have a cousin who has done exactly that several times, and she's stayed with extended family and such, but I have no idea where.
Hope you're enjoying Ireland! :)
Well, I know you, but I can't recall any others off the top of my head. Seems like there must have been one somewhere among the many teammates I've had playing ball, but none come to mind.
ReplyDeleteYou're the only Conlon I know as well, Matt. Interesting stuff above on your family coat of arms. My family has a coat o' legs and NONE of us knows what that means.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting story on your family history. I love to learn about that sort of thing. That's interesting about the bird pecking the chest.
ReplyDeleteYou are my first Conlon! :) It is great to "meet" you!
ReplyDeleteLoki Morgan (fellow geek blogger!)
Hey, look at the Morgans coming out to comment to the Conlon! Matt, you're the only Conlon I know right now, but I get it about a common name. Go to any sizable city in the English-speaking world and crack open the phone directory. You can't swing a dead cat without hitting a Morgan.
ReplyDeleteWell that's a let down. I hate when people get in the way while I'm dead-cat-swinging. ;)
ReplyDeleteMy third favorite Morgan (third only to the two Morgans who've commented of course!) is Dexter Morgan. Have you watched that show, "Dexter"?
Oh, yeah ~ Dexter! Don't swing any dead cats, Matt. It's highly overrated.
ReplyDeleteI know a few Conlons! I live in a predominantly Irish suburb outside of NYC so it makes sense that I'd meet a few Conlons in my lifetime.
ReplyDeleteKnow no Conlons...just you! Your Coat of Arms is interesting, as you stated, the bleeding bird?..
ReplyDeletePlus the turtle....
Mine has two swords with a laurel leaf around them..go figure!
Going up to D...Running behind..
http://timeforabucketlist.blogspot.com/
http://imagesinthought.blogspot.com/
http://the-old-story-tree.blogspot.com/
http://bagladythoughts.blogspot.com/
I know one Conlon, but I'm glad to meet you, fellow A-Z blogger! Thanks for your comment on my E post! :)
ReplyDeleteYou're the only Conlon I know, but damn I'm glad I do know you. That's pretty cool, your Conlon Facebook group. The research into your coat-of-arms is pretty cool too. Maybe someday you'll know all about it.
ReplyDelete