Irish Tartans Questions

[Gàidhlig]

I find the obsession of "recognition" and "official" interesting


I don't need an agency, clan chief or some book to tell me what is "recognized" and "official".

I too, could care more or less about someones "Official" stamp of approval on a tartan. My family is extreamely proud of our scottish roots. We take pride in our clan tartans. This summer my wife attended her first highland games and truely had a great time. As with most games, there were vendors that sold general Celtic items, and these indeed included irish themed items. My wife has always been proud of her Irish heritage, as was her father, who's mother was an O'connell. She searched high and low for something with her family name, but to no avail.
Every member of my family will have a kilt or kilted skirt at the next games. I know my wife will not have a problem wearing our tartan, but I also know it would mean twice as much to her if she had one of her own family and roots. Especially since loosing her father just a couple of years back. This is what began me on my quest.
Regaurdless of its recognition as official or not...something I can give to her and say "This is YOUR family tartan". Something to wear with ours to represent both sides. Something that when I tell her it is her familys heritage, she can look up on her own and find it, and have that same sense of pride that each one of us feels when we put on our tartans.

[porrick]

We take pride in our clan tartans.

Something that when I tell her it is her familys heritage, she can look up on her own and find it, and have that same sense of pride that each one of us feels when we put on our tartans.

Aye, I agree. Though my non-official tartans do indeed represent my heritage:

Murphy tartan for being a Murphy
Antrim being the county my Irish side of the family comes from
Irish National to show pride in the Irish side of my family.

Good luck in your quest - let us know what you come up with