My first tartan was Bermuda Blue Plaid, purchased on my honeymoon. I'm divorced now, but I still wear it when my other tartans need cleaning. Some day I'll sell it to a good home. My second tartan was Black Watch, a good universal tartan for when I'm working at the local Highland Games and out of respect for the Black Watch and its ties to the roots of law enforcement. My last tartan was Munster Province of Ireland which is where we think our ancestors are from. I love its colors and its pattern and the fact that it's Irish.

My next tartan will probably be Irish National or Shadow Green. BUT if I had a clan (Scottish or Irish) that had it's own tartan, I would wear THAT tartan, no matter how ugly it looked on its own or how ugly it looked on me. One day when we know which Barry branch or which McMahon branch we are, then I'll take up the tartan for that family, maybe O'Brien, or that county, Cork or Kerry. My tartans say who I am. "The blood is strong".