The Tartans of The Emerald Isle

St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, and is widely regard as the founder of Christianity in the Emerald Isle. Known as the 'Apostle of Ireland', St Patrick was an active missionary during the 5th Century, originally from Roman Britain, and said to have been captured and taken to Ireland by a group of Irish pirates at the age of 16. Upon arriving in Ireland, he was held captive by the pirates and forced to look after livestock as a shepherd. His time as a shepherd was said to have strengthened his relationship with God which led to him converting to Christianity. St Patrick remained captive in Ireland for six years, until he had a vision that he would soon escape his bonds. Fleeing his captors, he gained passage back to Britain returning to his family.

However, this was not the end of St Patrick's adventures in the Emerald Isle. He trained as a cleric and returned to Ireland, where he played a key role in converting Irish society from practicing Celtic-Polytheism to Christianity. St Patrick was said to have spent his later life as a bishop, although it is not known where. His life is celebrated on the 17th of March each year, with most estimates suggesting that this was the date that he passed away.

On the 17th of March each year, St Patrick is celebrated in Ireland and across the world. The day commemorates the arrival of Christianity and celebrates the rich culture and heritage of Ireland. St Patrick's Day is a public holiday in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and is celebrated across the globe from Europe and North America, to South America and Australasia. Celebrations involve a variety of events including public parades, festivals, and ceilidhs, with the green of the shamrock a common sight. Similarly to us Scots, people of Irish descent can be found across the globe, and celebrating St Patrick's Day is a great way for Celts to connect.

Ireland is not only home to St Patrick but to a whole host of great tartan. Unlike in Scotland where tartans are predominately representative of a clan, in Ireland, they are linked to a district or a county. Still unsure what to wear this St Patrick's Day? With plenty of tartans to choose from you're spoilt for choice.

All Ireland Tartan is available in three different variants, Green, Red, and Blue, with the soft tones representing the colours of Ireland's landscape. These tartans were created in 1997 to celebrate the strong relationship between Scotland and Ireland, and although the tartan itself is fairly new, it goes a long way to celebrate the shared history and culture of both nations. We are often asked if Irish and Scottish kilts are made the same way? The answer is yes, traditional kiltmakers use all the same skills and detail to make your kilt and the only difference is the tartan chosen.

Scotland has its very own Pride of Scotland tartan, so it's only fair that the Emerald Isle has its own version. Pride of Ireland tartan is a distinctive, bright and colourful tartan, with a green base and a black, blue and yellow check. This is a great alternative to Celtic FC tartan due to its similarity and the football club's Irish heritage.

St Patrick tartan was created to commemorate the patron saint of Ireland. Around the world, people celebrate St Patrick and Irish culture on the 17th of March each year, to commemorate his death. What better way to celebrate the famous patron saint than by wearing his tartan?

Today, Ireland may only have four provinces, but the Emerald Isle used to be home to five. In the 5th Century, the island was ruled by the "Ri Coicid" or Kings of a Fifth, suggesting that there were five kingdoms; Connaught, Leinster, Meath, Munster, and Ulster. However, Leinster absorbed Meath, resulting in the four provinces that we know today.

Connaught tartanis a district tartan linked to the Irish province of Connaught. This province was home to the first known High King of All Ireland, 'Maelsachniall'. The king was descended from an old line of rulers, who held the name Ui Neill which translates to "the nine hostages". This means that either 'Maelsachniall' or one of his descendants have direct links to Clan MacLachlan. Connaught tartan is bright and colourful with a light green base and a bright pink check.

Leinster Green tartan is a district tartan that is linked to the Irish province of Leinster. This province is home to Dublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland and is the country's most populous province. The tartan itself combines several different colours including green, blue, yellow and red, resulting in a bold design.

Munster tartan is the district tartan linked to the province of Munster. Munster can be found in the south-west of Ireland and is home cities of Cork and Limerick. It is home to some of the Emerald Isle's best scenery including Killarney and the Ring of Kerry. The tartan itself, like most Irish tartans, consists of a green base colour, with a red and black check.

Ulster is the most northerly of Ireland's four provinces. It is the second-largest province both in terms of size and population and is home to Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland. Ulster is home to the largest lake in the British Isles, Lough Neagh, which is bordered by five of the six counties of Northern Ireland. The tartan itself is available in two different variants. The generic variant of Ulster tartan consists of a gold base, with a red and brown check, making it unique to other Irish tartans. Ulster Red is similar in design but has a red base with a green and gold check.

Irish district tartans are not just reserved for the four provinces. County Fermanagh tartan is linked to the county of Fermanagh in Northern Ireland. Fermanagh is often referred to as Ireland's Lake District, alongside neighbouring County Cavan, on account of its many rivers and loughs. Curiously, it is the only Northern Irish county not to border Loch Neagh. County Fermanagh tartan consists of a light blue base, with a bright green and gold check.

Connemara tartan is another county tartan and is representative of Galway. County Galway is famed for its rugged yet picturesque landscape with a meandering coastline and winding valleys. This scenery is captured in the tartan, with its combination of reds, greens, and blues. The county is also home to the beautiful Kylemore Abbey, which is the number one tourist attraction in the west of Ireland.

With your attire all set and your party plans sorted the only thing left to think about is how to fill your tummy. While Ireland is mainly known for potatoes and Guinness, there is a lot more to their cuisine. Starting with the traditional corned beef; corned beef is beef cured in in salt and can also be known as Brisket, perfect for a slow cooked stew. The Irish traditionally eat this with colcannon (a buttery mash with cabbage folded through it), and mixed vegetables, a lovely hearty meal to go perfectly with your pint of Guinness. Another thing to add to your St Patricks Day meal is the famous soda bread, and while the internet is filled with soda bread recipes, many Irish families have their very own recipes that they pass down generations. The beauty of soda bread is that it is also known as a quick bread, using sodium bicarbonate instead of yeast to make it rise, and giving it a unique texture. If you are thinking of making your own soda bread this St Patricks Day, add green food dye to your dough to add to the effect!

Of course it wouldn't be fair to talk about St Patricks Day with out mentioning green food! You can stick with food that is naturally green like cabbage or risk it all by inventing your own green creation. Create your own special cheesecake with Irish lacquer and a hint of green food dye and your pudding will not only be delicious but also be proudly green for all to enjoy. There are many green recipes to find and experiment with, fill your table full of Ireland cuisine and of course don't forget to share pictures with us in all your St Patricks Day celebrations.