Speaking of Irish tartans.....

[SumoKilt]

Hey folks


I got a sample swatch book of Irish Tartans from Marton Mills today and lo and behold there is a "Wild Geese" tartan. I am considering making one for myself, but do not want to run afoul of a real Wild Goose. Anyone out there know if the WG's have an opinion on this?


Reason I ask is I saw a guy wearing a Leatherneck kilt who wasn't a gyrene and wasn't thrilled about the matter.

Josh

[macwilkin]

Hey folks


I got a sample swatch book of Irish Tartans from Marton Mills today and lo and behold there is a "Wild Geese" tartan. I am considering making one for myself, but do not want to run afoul of a real Wild Goose. Anyone out there know if the WG's have an opinion on this?


Reason I ask is I saw a guy wearing a Leatherneck kilt who wasn't a gyrene and wasn't thrilled about the matter.

Josh

Josh,

The "Wild Geese" in Irish history are those Irish who fled to the Continent, speficially France and Spain, after the defeat of James II in 1690. One version of the story says that the term "wild geese" was used on ship's manifests to secretly refer to these Jacobite soldiers. The term has come to to symbolize any Irish expatriates who have served in foreign armies.

There is also a movie entitled "The Wild Geese" which is loosley based on a mercenary unit commanded by "Mad Mike" Hoare in the Congo in the 1960's. One of their insignia's was a shoulder patch with a wild goose.

I would be curious to see the tartan.

Cheers,

Todd