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3 Celts & Company • "THE IRISH TARTANS"

Although not a traditional component of national dress outside Scotland, kilts have become recently popular in the other Celtic nations as a sign of Celtic identity. Kilts and tartans can therefore also be seen in Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, the Isle of Man, Brittany, Galicia in Spain, the Trás-os-Montes region in the North of Portugal, and Normandy, as well as parts of England, particularly the North East.
Though the origins of the Irish kilt continue to be a subject of debate, current evidence suggests that kilts originated in the Scottish Highlands and Isles and were adopted by Irish nationalists at the turn of the 20th century as a symbol of Celtic identity. A garment that has often been mistaken for kilts in early depictions is the Irish lein-croich, a long tunic traditionally made from solid colour cloth, with black, saffron and green being the most widely used colours. Solid coloured kilts were first adopted for use by Irish nationalists and thereafter by Irish regiments serving in the British Army, but they could often be seen in late 19th and early 20th century photos in Ireland especially at political and musical gatherings, as the kilt was re-adopted as a symbol of Gaelic nationalism in Ireland during this period.
Tartan was worn originally in Scotland as a fashionable type of dress. All tartan was, of course, hand woven and each weaver would take it upon him or herself to create unique and attractive designs based on the colors of dyes available. Certain colors may have been more common in certain regions, but there was nothing to prohibit someone with money from importing various dyes. Certain pattern schemes may have been more common in one area than another, but nothing approaching modern clan tartans could be said to have existed.
Imagine talking to a hand weaver of tartan, a craftsman and an artist, and telling that person that you wanted them to weave the same pattern of tartan in the same colors for everyone in the region (regiment, clan, etc.). That pattern was set in stone, could not be varied from and was to be the only pattern woven for that clan. Of course they would never have taken such commands! Tartan was and still is an art form and individual weavers created a wonderful variety of tartan designs.
By the 16th century, when we begin to see the earliest type of kilted garment (the belted plaid), tartan had become characteristic of Highland Dress. Gaelic speaking Highlanders wore tartan of bright and flashy shades to show off wealth and status. They also favoured darker, natural tones that would emulate the shades of the bracken and the heather so that they might wrap themselves in their plaids and be hidden. But the colors chosen had more to do with what dyes were available to them (either locally or that they could afford to import) and personal taste than any clan affiliation.

Irish Tartans: SAFFRON (Irish Brown), IRISH NATIONAL (Tara), ULSTER RED, SAINT PATRICK, IRISH BLACK, TARA DISTRICT

"Kilt". Wikipedia. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilt]. December 2013. web.

Newsome, Matthew. "The Early History of The Kilt". Albanach Archive. [https://albanach.org/early-history-of-the-kilt-e0c5b0101b5]. 2000. web.

The Scottish Register of Tartans (SRT). [https://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tartanDetails?ref=4071]. 31 December 2018. web.

keywords[x] tartan, wool, kilts, Irish, Celtic, Gaelic, nationalism

3 Celts & Company • "BUCHANAN"

Clan Siol Ui'Cain: the race of O Kyan ( the Cathan/Chattan ).

Maormorship of Moray:: clans Chattan, Cameron, Nachtan/MacNachton/Nacton, Gillean/MacLean/MacLaine, Siol O'Cain:: Munro/Clann an Rothaich/Roich & Gillemheol/MacMillan.

Legend derives the clan's original name MacAusian from Irish prince Anselan O Kyan, granted a settlement in Lennox by Malcolm II. The Auselan first actually recorded was Steward to a 13th-century Earl of Lennox, from whom he obtained the Loch-Lomondside district of Buchanan, which includes Ben Lomond. His son Gilbert was the first user of the Buchanan surname, as well as founder of the branches that took his own name. From Gilbert's brothers Colman and Methlan, grandson Maurice and great-granson Walter there derive other sept names, and the separated clan MacMillan.
George Buchanan, a fore-runner (though in Latin) of Burns and Byron, the tutor of Montaigne, Mary Queen of Scots and James VI, historian and Reformationist, ranks as the clan's chief personality, though a U.S. President could be among others cited.

Septs: COLMAN, CORMACK, COUSLAND, DEWAR, DOVE, DOW, GIBB, GIBBON, GIBSON, GILBERT, GILBERTSON, HARPER, HARPERSON, LEAVY, LENNIE, LENNY, MACALDONICH, MACALMAN, MACASLAN, MANASLIN, MACAUSELAN, MACAUSLAN, MACAUSLAND, MACAUSLANE, MACALMAN, MACCALMONT, MACCAMMOND, MACCASLAND, MACCHRUITER, MACCOLMAN, MACCORMACK, MACCUBBIN, MACCUBING, MACCUBIN, MACGEORGE, MACGIBBON, MACGRREWSICH, MACGUBBIN, MACINALLY, MACINDEOR, MACINDOE, MACKINLAY, MACKINLEY, MACMASTER, MACMAURICE, MACMURCHIE, MACMURCHY, MACNEUR, MACNUIR, MACNUYER, MACQUATTIE, MACWATTIE, MACWHIRTER, MASTERS, MASTERSON, MORRICE, MORRIS, MORRISON, MURCHIE, MURCHISON, RICHARDSON, RISK, RUSK, RUSKIN, SPITTAL, SPITTEL, WALTER, WALTERS, WASON, WATERS, WATSON, WATT, WATTERS, WEIR, YUILL, YOOL, YULE, ZUILL

"MACMILLAN" The term 'ancient' normally describes a change in colour that can be applied to any tartan. In the case of MacMillan the 'ancient' form involves a more radical change, justifying the traditional use of the adjective in the name of the tartan. James Logan, co-author of 'The Clans of the Scottish Highlands' (1847), states that this version is identical with Buchanan. The thread count was deduced by J. Cant from the illustration by R.R. MacIan in the same work.

"BUKANSIDA" an Old Norse place name. "-an" Scot masculine suffix used to form nouns often for male given names. The Earldom of Mar and Buchan formed one of the seven original Scottish earldoms (Kingdom of Ce). Alba's stone circles are most densely concentrated near Aberdeen, in old Buchan.

"Odin's Stone" Promise of Odin, a promise of marriage or particular sort of contract, accounted very sacred by some of the inhabitants of Orkney. [...] the Stone at Stenhouse with the round hole in it, [...] was customary, when promises were made, for the contracting parties to join hands through this hole; and the promises so made were called the promises of Odin.

"PROMISE of ODIN." An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language: Volume 2. Edinburgh, SCOT: University Press, c.1808. chap.O. Print.

"BUKANSIDA". Grímur Jónsson Thorkelin. Fragments of English and Irish history in the ninth and tenth century. London, UK. 2 Nov 1788. map. Print.

"BUCHANAN." Scots Kith and Kin and Illustrated Map Revised Second Edition. Edinburgh, SCOT: Clan House, c.1970. p.50. Print.

"Ancient North Scotland." The Highland Monthly - Volume 2. Edinburgh: JOHN MENZIES & CO. c.1890-91. p.546. Print.

"MACMILLAN ANCIENT" National Records of Scotland, H.M. General Register House, 2 Princes Street, Edinburgh, EH1 3YY. [https://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tartanDetails?ref=2657]. 2019. web.

keywords[x] tartan, wool, kilts, Buchanan, clan, septs

3 Celts & Company • "MACDONALD (of the Isles)"

Clan Siol Cuinn: the race of Conn - Rory, Donald & Dugall ( the Chief Gallgael ).

Maormorship of ir-Galgael:: Siol Cuinn, Gillevray/Neill/Ewen/Lachlan, Siol Eachern/Lamont, Donnachie/Robertson, Pharlane/Macfarlane.

Greatest and most widespread of all, Clan Donald has its main roots in the old Gaelic and Pictish times, with additions from the Norsemen just when the curtain of history begins lifting on personalities. There is a legendary ancestor Conn of the Battles, but the first clear one is Somerled, the thane of Argyll to become wellnigh an independent king of the 'South Isles' (from Ardnamurchan round to Bute), swaying his naval alliance between the rival powers of Scotland and Norway. In 1135 he availed David I to expel the Norse from Arran and Bute, and eventually fell at Renfew in 1164 when himself invading against Malcolm IV. Of his three sons by a daughter of Olaf, Norse king of the Isle of Man, the eldest founded the MacDougall clan of Lorn, and the next son Raginald or Ranald was ancestor to all the clans that derive name from his eldest son Donald.
[...]MacDonald allegiance to the Scottish crown was now unquestionable--so far as it could be induced or enforced. Bruce at Bannockburn granted the clan their jealously upheld honour of position on right of the Scottish battle-array: and in the following reign Angus Mor's grandson John of Islay reunited the North and South Isles by marrying the MacRorie heiress, and first assumed the Lordship of the Isles[...]After 1493[...]Chiefship shifted to the Sleat branch in Skye, called MacDonalds of the Isles, to distiguish them from the branch-clans.
The numerous sept names have various origins[...] Small clans or families sought or fell under the MacDonald protection, or like the MacBeths took high service with the chiefs.

• "MACDONALD of Clanranald"

Strictly, all the MacDonald clans are of Clan Ranald and were frequently so termed, from Donald's father Reginald or Ranald. Thus some confusion arises when a particular branch-clan adopts that general name,[...] (Specifically of Clanranald) They derive from another Ranald, doubly descended from the first, being a younger son of John, first Lord of the Isles[...]

MacDonald (of the Isles) Septs: ALASTAIR, ALLISTER, ANDERSON, BALLACH, BALLOCH, BEATH, BEATON, BETHUNE, BOWIE, BRODIE, BUDGE, BUIE, BULLOCH, CAMBRIDGE, CATHAL, CATHIL, COCHRANE, COLL, COLSON, CONN, CONNAL, CONNELL, COOK, COOKE, COULL, COULSON, CRIRIE, CROMB, CROMBIE, CROOM, CRUM, DANIEL, DANIELS, DARRACH, DARROCH, DONALD, DONALDSON, DONNELL, DRAIN, DUNNEL, FORREST, FORRESTER, GALBRAITH, GALBREATH, GALL GALT, GAULD, GAUL, GAULT, GILBRIDE, GILL, GORRIE, GORRY GOWAN, GOWANS, HAWTHORN, HERON, HEWISON, HOUSTOUN, HOWAT, HOWE, HOWIE, HOWISON, HUDSON, HUTCHEON, HUTCHESON, HUTCHIN, HUTCHINSON, HUTCHON, HUTSON, ISLES, JEFFERY, KEEGAN, KEIGHREN, KELLY, KINNEL, LAING, LANG, LEITCH, MACARTHUR, MACBEATH, MACBETH, MACBHEATH, MACBRAYNE, MACBRIDE, MACBRYDE, MACCAA, MACCAIRN, MACCAMBRIDGE, MACCARRON, MACCAW, MACCAY, MACCLUSKIE, MACCODRUM, MACCOLL, MACCONNAL, MACCONNELL, MACCOONISH, MACCOOK, MACCOSHAM, MACCRAIN, MACCRAN, MACCRIRIE, MACCRORIE, MACCRUM, MACCUAIG, MACCUISH, MACCUITHEIN, MACCUTCHEN, MACCUTCHEON, MACDANIELL, MACDRAIN, MACEACHERN, MACEACHRAN, MACELFRISH, MACELHERAN, MACGAA, MACGAW, MACGEACHY, MACGECHIE, MACGEE, MACGHEE, MACGHIE, MACGILL, MACGORRIE, MACGORRY, MACGOUN, MACGOW, MACGOWAN, MACGOWN, MACGRAIN, MACHUGH, MACHUTCHEN, MACHUTCHEON, MACILLRICK, MACILREACH, MACILWRAITH, MACILWRICK, MACKAY, MACKEACHIE, MACKEE, MACKELLAIG, MACKELLOCH, MACKERRON, MACKEY, MACKIE, MACKIGGAN, MACKINNELL, MACLAIRISH, MACLARDY, MACLARTY, MACLAVERTY, MACLEVERTY, MACMURCHIE, MACMURCHY, MACMURDO, MACMURDOCH, MACO'SHANNAIG, MACQUIKAN, MACQUISTAN, MACQUISTEN, MACRAITH, MACREARIE, MACRORIE, MACRORY, MACRUER, MACRURY, MACRYRIE, MACSORLEY, MACSPORRAN, MACSWAN, MACSWEEN, MACWHAN, MACWHANNELL, MARK, MARQUIS, MARTIN, MAY, MURCHIE, MURCHISON, MURDOCH, MURDOSON, MURPHY, O'MAY, PATON, PATTEN, PEDEN, PURCELL, REOCH, REVIE, RIACH, RODERICK, RORIE, RORISON, RYRIE, SHANNON, SHENNAN, SORLEY, SORLIE, SPORRAN, TRAIN, WHANNEL, WHEELAN, WHELLAN, WILKIE, WILKINSON

of Ardnamurchan Septs: JOHNSON, JOHNSTONE, KEAN, KEENE, MACIAN, MACKAIN, MACKANE, MACKEAN, MACKEAND

of Clanranald Septs: ALCOCK, ALISON, ALLAN, ALLANSON, ALLEN, CALLAN, CALLEN, CURRIE, ISAAC, ISAACS, KETCHEN, KECTHIN, MACACHIN, MACAICHAN, MACALLAN, MACBURIE, MACCRINDLE, MACCURRACH, MACCURRIE, MACDONALD, MACEACHAN, MACKEACHEN, MACEACHIN, MACGACHAN, MACGEACHAN, MACISAAC, MACKEACHAN, MACKECHNIE, MACKEOCHAN, MACKESSACK, MACKESSICK, MACKICHAN, MACKISSOCK, MACMURRAY, MACMURRICH, MACVARISH, MACVURICH, MACVURIE, MACVURRICH, PARK

of Glencoe Septs: HENDERSON, HENDRIE, HENDRY, HENRY, JOHNSON, KEAN, KEENE, MACDONALD, MACGILP, MACHENDRIE, MACHENDRY, MACHENRY, MACIAN, MACKEAN, MACKILLOP, MACPHILIP, PHILIP, PHILP

of Glengarry Septs: ALASTAIR, ALEXANDER, ALLISTER, COWAN, MACCOWAN, MACDONELL, MACOWAN, SANDER, SANDERS, SANDERSON, SAUNDERS

of Keppoch Septs: MACDONELL, MACGILLIVANTIC, MACGILP, MACGLASRICH, MACKILLOP, MACMICHIE, MACPHILIP, MACRONALD, MECHIE, MEEKISON, MEKIE, MICHAEL, MICHIE, MICHIESON, PHILIP, PHILIPSON, PHILLIP, PHILLIPS, PHILP, RAINNIE, RONALD, RONALDSON

"MACDONALD (of the Isles)." Scots Kith and Kin and Illustrated Map Revised Second Edition. Edinburgh, SCOT: Clan House, c.1970. p.62-66. Print.

"Ancient North Scotland." The Highland Monthly - Volume 2. Edinburgh: JOHN MENZIES & CO. c.1890-91. p.546. Print.

keywords[x] tartan, wool, kilts, MacDonald, clan, septs