Bear,

Please don't think I was suggesting the Ulster Tartan v. the Irish National Tartan on the basis of politics. On the contrary; I recommended the Ulster tartan because Al said his relatives were from Northern Ireland, and the Ulster Tartan has such a unique history (a 300 year-old tartan, found in a bog, one of the few pre-Culloden tartans around, etc.) The Irish National is a fine tartan, but the Ulster has a great story to go along with it, and is an "authentic" ancient tartan in every sense of the world.

Cheers,

T.