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by Michael O'Laughlin

Irish family tartans never, never existed

Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at 03:34 PM
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Traditional Irish family plaid tartans never existed

News Release St, Patricks Day Warning #1

See my video comments here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwwMf5Et_tA

See my recent videocast on Irish Family Tartans.
Irish Family Tartans never existed

For 30 years folks have asked me “what is my Irish
Family Tartan”. More and more people are finding out
that there is no such thing, and that there never was.
(Family plaids or tartans are a Scots tradition, and by
all means enjoy them - but do not buy into the lie
that there are “Irish Family Tartans”.) Never were,
and your ancestors would roll over in their graves
laughing if they saw such nonsense today.

Someone Wrote a Book
A few years back someone wrote a book and decided to
“assign” tartans to Irish families. This book has sold a lot
of Tartan cloth I am sure. It is totally unfounded. Some
people will try to sell you an ‘Irish family tartan’ to this day.
They are either misinformed, silly, or just trying to
make a buck.

Don’t be a Fool
I like tartans, and fully support anyone who wants to
adopt a plaid because they like it. But if you think there
is a direct tie to the history of your old Irish family, you have
been badly fooled.
Pay proper respect to your family, and history. Spread the word
this year about Irish family tartans. “Never was such a thing”.
No, Nay, Never, No More…..

For more detail see my earlier link:

https://www.reconstructinghistory.com/irish.php?s=&c=8&d=100&e=&f=&g=&a=215&w=2

***********************************************

The author of todays blog is Mike O’Laughlin.
Among his historic firsts are:

1. The first weekly Irish Genealogy broadcast on the Internet
2. The first 34 book set on Irish Families & Genealogy
3. The republication of Connellans Annals of Ireland by the 4 Masters
4. The first book and internet broadcast on the Irish in Missouri.

Mr. O’Laughlin maintains an Irish research library of 3,000 volumes,
and publishes the work of 10 different authors in
the field of Irish history and genealogy.

All of his works can be found at www.Irishroots.com
*************************************************************************




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7 Comments

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gold6digger | Dec 26, 2010, 08:53 AM EST
i am looking for the wilkerson clan

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PeterCav | Dec 06, 2010, 04:36 PM EST
I have learnt that it was an enterprising victorian cloth manufacturer that hit on the idea of assigning scottish clan names to plaids. So, although it might be pleasant to have "family"tartan, it's not necessarily that ancient so I quite like the idea that today's entrepreneurs are creating family or district plaids for the irish though I accept it's not traditional.

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oldboreen | Oct 06, 2010, 01:14 PM EDT
Irish tartans? As you say,a myth. Frankly I always feel uneasy when I see an Irishman wearing a kilt, whether safron coloured or tartan. However,on the other hand, it's worth remembering that many Irish families have names originating in Scotland and therefore Scottish clan names.I have always regarded my self as being 100% ethnic Irish, but like so many Irish, I have distant Scottish ancestry, my great grandmother was a Melville from Sneem, Co Kerry, and if that's not a Scottish name then I don't know what is. The Melville clan area is Leith in Scotland.So,if you have Scottish ancestry,however distant, then you can legitimately wear your clan tartan. I personally would not, but it's a matter of choice.

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mcdolan | Jul 19, 2010, 09:23 AM EDT
I agree re tartans / plaids. Always felt a bit cheated that the Scots had the tradition and not the Irish, and I am amused when I see an Irish man wearing a kilt to his wedding as if he had the historical right to do so (and of course I am assuming he has no Scottish family connection). I like kilts and I like tartans but they aren't Irish.

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beachline | Mar 19, 2010, 10:25 AM EDT
Thank you for setting the record straight. Most of usIrish already knew this, but, everything "Irish" seems to sell to overseas Irish descendents.

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mandokeith | Mar 19, 2010, 09:27 AM EDT
Yeah, my family did not have one.....cause were IRISH!

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Derrylass627 | Mar 19, 2010, 09:26 AM EDT
Thank you! Finally an authority has stated what many of us already know! People want to believe they came from some kind of royalty when most of us came from farmers or at least farm workers.

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