Originally Published May 2012 Irish Kilts? In the U.S. when you are out and about in public while wearing a kilt it’s not at all uncommon to be asked if you are Irish, as opposed to Scottish, since the kilt has become stereotyped as a part of traditional dress Ireland as well as in Scotland. […]
Category: Blast from the Past
Celtic Hist. Newsletter Blast from the Past: Scottish & Irish Pirates
Scottish & Irish Pirates Originally Published June 2012 Although when thinking about pirates most people think of Johnny Depp, tricorn hats and Captain Hook, pirates probably appeared on the scene shortly after people started transporting valued goods via boat. I thought it might be fun to take a look at some of the colorful figures […]
Newsletter Blast from the Past: The Connaught Rangers
The Connaught Rangers Originally published July 2012 The 88th Regiment of Foot, nicknamed “The Devil’s Own,” was an Irish regiment of the British army. It was one of eight regiments raised and garrisoned in Ireland. The 88th Foot were raised in 1793 to be prepare for the threat from Napoleonic France. One of their early […]
Celtic Hist. Newsletter Blast from the Past: Fighting Jack Churchill
Interesting tidbit. According to Nation Museums Scotland “George R. R. Martin has stated many times that the Massacre of Glencoe, along with the Black Dinner at Edinburgh Castle in 1440, is what gave him the idea for Game of Thrones’ most infamous scene – the Red Wedding.” Read their article. Fighting Jack Churchill Originally Published […]
Celtic Hist. Newsletter Blast from the Past: Alexander Selkirk
Alexander Selkirk Originally published November 2012 Alexander Selkirk was born in 1676, and was the real-life inspiration behind the novel Robinson Crusoe. He was the seventh son of a shoemaker from Largo, Fife in Scotland. He is described as a “spoiled and wayward boy” who “frequently engaged in mischief of one kind or another.” He […]
Newsletter Blast from the Past: Celtic Chariots & Cavalry
Free online course on the Book of Kells returns Following a hugely successful debut, Trinity College Dublin is again running its free online course on the Book of Kells – one of the world’s most famous medieval manuscripts. Originally Published February 2013 As with many ancient peoples chariots were an important part of Celtic warfare. […]
Newsletter Blast from the Past: The Poyais Scam
I’m a little late with this week’s blast from the past MacGregor Games got stuck in Oshkosh due to the snow and high winds over the weekend. This article was originally published December 2012 Gregor MacGregor (1786 – 1845) was a Scottish soldier, adventurer, land speculator, and colonizer who fought in the South American struggle […]
Newsletter Blast from the Past: Gallic Dining through Greek Eyes
Originally published March 2013 Of course we have to take writings of foreigners with a grain of salt, but I thought some of these Greek quotes describing dining/feasting habits of the Gauls might be of interest. One of the last ones brings up a question in my mind. “The Celts sit upon dried grass and […]
Newsletter Blast from the Past: Scottish Dirks
Originally published April 2013 We have a guest writer this month. A friend, Joseph D. Smith shared with me an article along he wrote some time ago along with a couple illustrations. His knowledge on the topic comes from not just book research, but also from some personal experience hand-forging dirks and other knives. Origin, […]
Newsletter Blast from the Past: Lindisfarne Gospel
Originally published May 2013 Although not as famous as the Book of Kells, The Lindisfarne Gospel is one of the great treasures of the British Library. It is believed to have been made on the “The Holy Isle of Lindisfarne” about 700 AD. Unlike the Book of Kells which had as many as eight people work […]