Irish Tartans Questions

[James MacMillan]

But even though the tartan itself is old, that just means it existed back then. It didn't have any official recognition.

Official recognition is itself a very slippery slope. What is "Official?" For Scottish Clans, it has come to be the Clan Chief's seal of approval. For other odd organizations, like an up-start internet clan , it is general acceptance and use. Business', Club's, Countries, Counties, Cities, Reunions, etc etc all have a right to "Officially" establish a tartan.

Take my beloved Leatherneck tartan, for instance. Through the hard work of Bob Hall, who designed and registered our tartan, the Marines have something that they call their own. Has the Marine Corps sanctioned or made this tartan "Official?" NO. Does that mean that all Marines, past and present are any less proud to wear it? No.

By far the best thing that you can do regarding wearing any tartan, and I mean any, is to make peace with yourself for wearing it. If you feel more comfortable wearing a district tartan, then, by all means do so.

There is also nothing that says you can't design a tartan yourself and place your own name, or the name of your beloved, on it.

and before I forget from Sunny Southern California!

[davedove]

By far the best thing that you can do regarding wearing any tartan, and I mean any, is to make peace with yourself for wearing it. If you feel more comfortable wearing a district tartan, then, by all means do so.

So very true.

There is also nothing that says you can't design a tartan yourself and place your own name, or the name of your beloved, on it.

Just waiting for the cloth to be woven.

[The Wizard of BC]

And to further muddy the waters about Irish Tartans....Each weaving mill is free to weave anything they want and three of them have done what they call the "Official" Irish Tartans. The most notable is Marton Mills which call theirs "Irish Clan Crest Tartans".
Then there are the Irish National, Irish Heritage, etc.
Of course you can always go with Saffron.

[gilmore]

...Of course you can always go with Saffron.

That's what I did. My nephew wears a Stillwater Irish National, also because he goes to Colorado State University, whose home colors are green and yellow, away color is white. He may have started a trend at the football games there. Others have appeared.