Why I Hate the Highland Games

**Riverkilt** · 27th February 05, 07:12 PM

I mean really, I love them...a gathering of kilts and all. I just hate my clan. There are sooooo many **** holes in Clan Macdonald and today I met another of them.

I'm at the Arizona Highland Games, wearing my Macdonald Lord of the Isles Ancient Hunting tank hand sewn by Kathy's Kilts in Albuquerque. I love that tartan. Think I've had a necktie in it for over 30 years.

I wander over to the Clan Donald tent and some arrogant **** informs me that the Lord of the Isle has reserved that tartan for himself...well excuuuuse me **** hole!

Like its not in every tartan guide in books and on line. The mills crank out the tartan, far more than one man could ever use himself, and people buy it up because its a beautiful tartan.

My family came from Staffin Skye on the far north of the Island...we're Macdonald of the Isles...they kicked my great grandfather's off their land during the clearances and they came to Nova Scotia in the 1850s. I'll wear that tartan if I like. And I told the **** that.

But dang, why do I have to put up with such petty insanity from twits. First Highland Games I've gone to in many a year, just because of such attitudes...harrump...holier than thou...etc.

Went over to the Utilikilt tent, had a great time, and detoxed from the **** hole clansman...until the drive home...sometimes I'm just ashamed of my clan.

Ron

The link wouldn't take, if ya wanna see the tartan go here:

http://www.scotyard.com/tartanfinder...to.php?pos=258

**bubba** · 27th February 05, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by Riverkilt

I wander over to the Clan Donald tent and some arrogant **** informs me that the Lord of the Isle has reserved that tartan for himself

I'd just tell him to tell it to the mills. Tough luck, the lord of the isles, Prince Charles, officially, I believe) will just have to find a new one.

**Uncle Ricky** · 27th February 05, 08:03 PM

I know what you mean Riverkilt. I play bass in a Scottish dance band, and some of the boys from the old country are just like that. Scottish chauvinism. Most of them are goog blokes, but some can really rub the fur the wrong way sometimes.

Cheers

**macwilkin** · 27th February 05, 08:12 PM

There are many tartans named for royal personages that are available to the general public, including Lord of the Isles (although HRH Prince Charles wears a variant lighter in colour, according to the STA's web page on royal tartans) -- this fellow is just plain wrong, Ron, and I would pay him no mind.

Cheers,

Todd

**Blu (Ontario)** · 27th February 05, 08:31 PM

I consider admonitions by outsiders suspect until verified. And then I only trust the experts on this webiste or pundits or sources that they recommend.

**Jimmy Carbomb** · 27th February 05, 09:54 PM

Come on Ron... tell us how you REALLY feel!

Try running around in the Irish Pubs, Organizations and community with the moniker "Carbomb". Those that know me, know what it's all about. Those that don't think that I'm some walking advocate for the IRA of the 1970's.

We all run into arses some times. The "art" is being able to detect which ones are... well... constipated!

**macwilkin** · 28th February 05, 04:30 AM

Ron,

I just thought of this: the "git" at the games probably doesn't realise that the Chief of Clan Donald is no longer the Lord of the Isles...the title passed to HRH Prince Charles. If he is claiming that the Chief of the MacDonalds is the only one who can wear it, then he needs to re-read his history.

Besides, I seem to remember somewhere the MacDonald Chief authorising the Clan Currie to use a variant of the Lord of the Isles tartan for their own.

Cheers,

Todd

**highlander_Daz** · 28th February 05, 04:50 AM

Whith the greatest of respect to yourselves and others, unless youve visited Scotlnd the general Mindset of most Scots is very different to people across the pond, whilst many of you are of Scots/ Irish descent, with the greatest of respect, your not Scots, I meet lots of tourists from all over the world, many of Scots descent,and the nearly all say "I thought I was Scottish until I visited Scotland" Its much different than you imagine, and many people involved in clans a wary of people they see as "interlopers" , my own clan of Cameron is very different, all septs are welcome, as are people with no family/blood connection to the Camerons who are just interested. we love it and feel honoured when people wear "our" tartan. But I think youll find many of these people who making comments on behalf of HRH and clan chiefs have no right to do so and are probably not Scots. honour your heritage in your own way and as long as you do so with pride I cant see a problem with that.

Is minig a thainig comhairle ghlic a ceann amadain

Slainthe'

**Doc Hudson** · 28th February 05, 05:08 AM

Originally Posted by highlander_Daz

Whith the greatest of respect to yourselves and others, unless youve visited Scotlnd the general Mindset of most Scots is very different to people across the pond, whilst many of you are of Scots/ Irish descent, with the greatest of respect, your not Scots, I meet lots of tourists from all over the world, many of Scots descent,and the nearly all say "I thought I was Scottish until I visited Scotland" Its much different than you imagine, and many people involved in clans a wary of people they see as "interlopers" , my own clan of Cameron is very different, all septs are welcome, as are people with no family/blood connection to the Camerons who are just interested. we love it and feel honoured when people wear "our" tartan. But I think youll find many of these people who making comments on behalf of HRH and clan chiefs have no right to do so and are probably not Scots. honour your heritage in your own way and as long as you do so with pride I cant see a problem with that.

Is minig a thainig comhairle ghlic a ceann amadain

Slainthe'

If this is an invitation for Scots on the far side of the pond to display Clan Cameron tartan. As another MacDonald descendant who likes the Lord of the Isles Hunting tartan, all I can say is,"Thank you most kindly."

Clan Cameron's crest and motto are worth adopting by all kiltwearers.

Aonaibh ri chéile (Unite) Not if that isn't a worthy motto, I can't think of a better.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 28th February 05, 05:18 AM

Doc,

I have alwyas loved that tartan as well. I even bought a kilt in it several years back off of Ebay, in the hopes that it would fit me (it was a size 30: and my size then was a 34" -- oh, the good ol' days). Anyway, I couldn't get it to work, and I sold it again. Hopefully it is still being worn with love.

Anyway, your point about it being available through every tartan import shop and cranked out by all the Mills is a great point. I make the same point about the Royal Stewart, when I get people telling me it is "reserved for the Royal Family." I say, "then tell me why I can get a bathrobe and boxer shorts in it at Target?"

The oft-repeated mantra is that the only tartan that the general public shoudl not wear is the Balmoral tartan. While this is true in terms of ettiquite there is still no legal restriction. If I asked, I'm sure I could get someone to weave a kilt length for me. Wouldn't that throw them all for a loop, if I showed up at the Highland Games in a nice Balmoral kilt.... hmm..... :-)

A lot of newly designed tartans today are restricted in the sense that they are copyrighted (these are usually corporate tartans), but this restriction applies to the production end of things, not the wearing of the tartan.
Aye,
Matt