Irish Kilt?

[Peter Crowe]

I am afraid that you are falling into the usual geographical trap when it comes to separating Gaelic speakers from those pesky Lowlanders. Milngavie (pronounced mull - guy) is located in what was historically Buchanan land, granted to them by the Earl of Lennox in the 13th century. In fact Craigend castle just to the north of Milngavie was a home of the Buchanans at one time. I don't need to tell you the history of the Buchanans or their origins in Ulster in the 11th century as I am sure you are fully aware of that but to dismiss Milngavie as you do is quite incorrect. As a matter of fact you will probably find more highlanders and those of highland descent (including Gaelic speakers) in and around Glasgow and its environs than you ever will in what you assume to be 'The Highlands'.

I totally agree Phil, about the Highland/Gaelic population of Glasgow and it's environs. I have had mixed reactions to wearing the kilt in the Dear Green Place but I always put that down to factors such as family or neighbourhood practice and culture. Amongst my family and their friends in and around Glasgow wearing THCD was if not universal far from unusual or remarkable. As to the Highland (and Hebridean) influence on the City, evidence of that can be found in the humorous collections of short stories by Neil Munro (Para Handy Tales etc.) as well as particular districts of the city of which the Knightswood area comes to mind or passing the Free Kirk on Woodlands Road as the Sunday evening service ends.

I know that in the case of my own family, they include sept names from Ross (Crowe), Gunn (Wilson), and Sinclair (Lyall), as well as the name Mackay. Many of these family antecedents (of my grand and great-grand parents generations) came to Glasgow from Banffshire (now Aberdeenshire), Angus, and Selkirkshire (Scottish Borders), so I do not claim to be a Highlander as such, nevertheless I consider THCD part of my own cultural inheritence.