Hollywood's Love Affair

Ireland has always had a love affair with Hollywood. It is a modern day chapter of The Wild Geese Story.

Talent has flocked from Ireland to carve out a career in California. The Golden Age of Hollywood saw the rise of George Brent (1899-1979), a 'dark haired charmer', left Ireland in 1925 and headed to the US. He started touring with production companies, performing across many different states and eventually appearing on Broadway alongside Clark Gable in 'Love, Honour, and Betray'.

In 1930 Brent moved to Hollywood and starred in his first film 'Under Suspicion', starting an extremely rich career. His most frequent co-star was Bette Davis and the two maintained a very close relationship, even up to his death in 1979. George Brent brought the romantic charisma of Ireland to the big screen, and captivated audiences of his age. However, he was was only the first part of this love affair.

In recent years, other stars from Ireland have resonated on the silver screen. Liam Neeson, Collin Farrell and Pierce Brosnan have now become established actors, recognised throughout the world. But a new wave of Irish actors is fast approaching and leading the way is Michael Fassbender, who has brought the appealing traits of George Brent to twenty-first century audiences.

Fassbender currently lives in LA - a sensible decision as he's currently working Hollywood blockbuster Promethus - but has an exciting heritage. Fassbender was born in Heidelber in Germany to a German father and Irish mother, but his family moved to Killarney, Co. Kerry.

'We moved to Ireland when I was two and we settled in Killarny, Co. Kerry. Where we were living in Germany is very industrial and grey and my parents wanted to have countryside around for my sister and I to grow up in'

Fassbender talking to Irish Central, February 2011.

He's quickly building a reputation has bringing sensitivity to the roles he plays, while also keeping them exciting and often on the fringe of hero and villain. He is perhaps at his best playing the Byronic hero Mr Rochchester in Jane Eyre . 

Fassbender's Irish accent also nearly stole the show in X-Men: First Class, in his dynamic turn as the troubled Magneto. But it was Fassbender's brave portrayal of Bobby Sands, who led the Irish Hunger Strike in 1891, that proved to be a turning point in his career. A sensitive role, Fassbender went through a crash diet and restricted himself to only 600 calories per day. The performance really opened audiences eyes to just what Fassbender could do. He received the award for Best Performance by an actor in a British Independent Film at the British Independent Film Awards. 

Already been dubbed 'an Irish Marlon Brando', its been a long journey from Ireland to Hollywood - taking numerous television roles and even working in a pub while times were hard - but it seems Michael Fassbender has finally arrived, and he's brought with him the remarkable creativity of Ireland. 

'The Irish part [of Fassbender] is that we're steeped in such cultural riches, for such a small Ireland'

Fassbender likes to return to Ireland when he gets the opportunity - 'Usually I get back around three times a year'. Back in 1691, Sarsfield and his followers took the name 'Wild Geese' as they left their homeland, hoping that one day they would return to Ireland. Its great to see that the call to home is still a powerful force.

Ireland's Highest Goalscorer Joins LA Galaxy

Irish footballer Robbie Keane has recently joined Major League Soccer in the US, signing with the renowned LA and scoring in his debut match - helping to ensure a victory for his new team.

Robbie Keane is Ireland's all-time record goalscorer, having become the first Irish player to score fifty international goals in June 2011. In high demand, LA Galaxy ensured they made room for him, trading Juan Pablo Angel and signing Keane on August 15th 2011. Keane took Angel's places as one of LA Galaxy's 'designated players'. The 'designated players rule' allows Major League Soccer Franchises to sign players that would usually be outside of the MLS salary cap. LA Galaxy's other 'designated players' are David Beckham and Landon Donovan.

Upon signing, Keane admitted, 'I have always wanted to come and play in Major League Soccer', and is proving the story of The Wild Geese continues today. As the captain of the Irish national team, Keane is in a position to inspire those around him. Already proving he is a world-class footballers, fans in LA Galaxy have been excited about his arrival. The 27, 000 capacity Home Depot Stadium in California sold out for his debut match on August 20th 2011. Ireland's colours were on show and traditional Irish dancers performed for the packed stadium before the match started.

Fans were anticipating what Keane could do.

'Of course we're delighted that Robbie's joined Galaxy... I train under 12s here in LA and it's fantastic that we can show them great players like Robbie here on their doorstep'

Christopher Cleary, originally from Dublin but living in LA

'As a striker, Robbie is going to bring so much value to the team... It's so exciting.'
Brenna, who plays under 15s soccer

The Wild Geese 'Untamed Tatto' has been designed
to celebrate those who share the qualities of The
Wild Geese.

Keane didn't disappoint. In his debut match, he scored the opening goal in the twenty-first minute, helping to secure a 2-0 victory for LA Galaxy against the San Jose Earthquakes. Robbie Keane is a testament to the continuing story of The Wild Geese - achieving remarkable feats away from his homeland. 

Remembering Patrick Sarsfield: The Wild Geese Legacy

The Siege of Limerick  

The Battle of Aughrim in 1691 devastated the Jacobite army. Four thousand lives were lost, including the commanding officer the Marquis de St. Ruth. But determined to fight on for their freedom, Patrick Sarsfield oversaw the retreat to Limerick.

Limerick was a stronghold, still in the hands of the Irish Jacobite forces. It had withstood a siege a year before, in which Sarsfield planned a daring mission to destroy a siege train that carried heavy weapons that could breach the town's walls. But morale was low and the Jacobite forces were crumbling. As the Williamite army blockaded Limerick, the hope of securing civil liberties for the Irish people starting to fade. The French commanders who Sarsfield served under refused to retreat, but having been abandoned by King James, Sarsfield subverted the commanders and negotiated peace for his people - and began talks for the Treaty of Limerick.

Freedom  

In the Treaty, Sarsfield tried to secure the safety of the civilians living in Limerick as well as their guaranteed freedom. Patrick Sarsfield and The Wild Geese fought passionately for these liberties believing that every person had the right to enjoy them. This is why each bottle of The Wild Geese carries a commemorative '1691' medallion - the Collection celebrates the Men of Action who fought to uphold this freedom.

But when Sarsfield and The Wild Geese chose to leave Ireland, they also sparked an intrepid story, that is still very much alive to this day. Wild Geese all over the world have had a remarkable impact on the world. Our Collection of Irish Whiskeys, which have been recognised as 'Best Irish Whiskey' on three occasions within twelve months, continues to celebrate this.

In March of this year US President Barack Obama planned a 'homecoming visit' to Ireland, to trace his own Irish roots. In an address to an excited crowd in Dublin, the President echoed the story of Sarsfield and The Wild Geese:

'Remember that whatever hardships the winter may bring, springtime is always just around the corner. And if they keep on arguing with you, just respond with a simple creed: Is Feidir Linn - Yes We Can'

Sarsfield is remembered as a prominent figure - a hero - in Ireland, particularly in Limerick where appropriately a bridge has been named after him, which leads onto Sarsfield Street.

Sarsfield Bridge in Limerick

Remembering Partrick Sarsfield

1691

This week marks the anniversary of Patrick Sarsfield's death. 

A courageous Man of Action, he relentlessly fought for freedom and dreamed of one day returning to Ireland to enjoy this important liberty. Tragically, he would never return to his homeland, but sparked the story of The Wild Geese - a story that lives on to this day. 

The high quality of our multi award winning Collection of Irish Whiskeys reflects the rich and significant story that inspires it. Each bottle of The Wild Geese Irish Whiskey commemorates these brave men and women who left Ireland seeking a new life.

Man of Action

Educated at a French Military, it is thought that Sarsfield was always prepared to take action - preferring to face daring pursuits in battle, rather than plan strategic campaigns of war. This passion burned in him throughout his military career. He first saw service in the army of Luxembourg as an ensign, and served in the army of King Louis XIV of France between 1671-1678. 

When James II ascended to the English throne in 1685, Sarsfield served under the King's commander in Ireland, Richard Talbot. Although James II recognised Sarsfield's raw courage, he didn't think that he was capable of high command or initiating strategies of war. 

Nevertheless Sarsfield served with distinction in the Williamite War. In 1690, Sarsfield served under St. Ruth, who he often disagreed with. But when St. Ruth fell in battle, Sarsfield ordered a hasty retreat. Unable to turn the tide of the battle, Sarsfield organised a strategic retreat - saving many of the men who served under him. 

He continued the war effort, by leading the defence of the Second Siege of Limerick. Faced with escalating odds, and realising that many more lives would be lost in a prolonged campaign, Sarsfield negotiated the Treaty of Limerick. In the Treaty, he ended the war and secured the rights of his people. 

The Wild Geese

But Sarsfield was unable to live under English rule. With many of his followers he boarded ships bound for France, and left Ireland believing he had ensured freedom for the people he had fought for. Taking the name 'Wild Geese', Sarsfield and his followers believed that one day they would enjoy this freedom in their homeland. 

Unfortunately the Treaty was not honoured by the English and Sarsfield served in European armies for the following three years. While fighting for King Louis XIV he received a Meréchal-de-camp (lieutenant-general commission), but was badly wounded in the Battle of Landen. Taken back to Huy, Belgium, Sarsfield did not recover from his injury and died three days later. 

It is thought that upon examining his bloody wound, and realising that he may soon die, his last words were 'Oh if only this were for Ireland'. Sarsfield was buried in Huy, in St. Martin's Church. Although is body was laid to rest in Belgium, it is clear that his heart belonged in Ireland. 

 

Battalón de San Patricio: Battles and Legacy

The American-Mexican war intertwined the Mexican and Irish nations.

Faced with the marching US army, Mexico recruited people from nations far and wide, inviting them to join their fight for freedom.

This call resulted in people from nations all over the world joining the Mexican army - primarily Irish and German immigrants and African Americans. 

The 'Legion of Foreigners' was quickly established and fought in the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma. Simultaneously, Jon Riley and manned Mexican artillery at the Siege of Fort Texas with other Irish deserters. These two groups then came together at the Battle of Monterrey on September 21st 1846, under the name Battalón de San Patricio. 

Beginning 

During the battle, the Battalion provided artillery support for the Mexican army. Proving to be the backbone of the Mexican artillery efforts, the Battalion rapidly grew in numbers following the battle - inspiring fellow immigrants to join the Mexicans' cause. 

On February 23rd, the San Patricios were given the three heaviest cannons to man in the Battle of Buena Vista. Positioned overlooking the battlefield, the Battalion began the battle by firing on US infantry and soon destroyed an artillery battery directly opposite. 

Evolving 

The Patricios started to get ambitious. A small company was dispatched to capture the an American cannon, which was far better designed. Relentless in this pursuit, the company battled US artillerymen hand to hand and hauled away two six-pound cannons, which would be used by the Mexican army in later battles - such as the Battle of Contreras, where they covered a Mexican retreat. After this battle, many Irishmen were awarded the War Cross and given field promotions. 

Their Last Breath 

The Battalion's final battle was fought at Churubusco - a vital strategic holding for the Mexican army. If Churubusco fell to the US, the War would quickly be over. The San Patricios used between three and five heavy cannons to hold off advancing US troops. As the battle raged on and the Mexican ammunition ran low, chaos quickly ensued and the Mexican lines were broken. The battle was nearing its end, and Mexican troops began raising white flags. But for the San Patricios, defeat would not only cost them the war, but may also cost them their lives. They passionately continued to fighting, preventing others from surrendering and engaging the US army hand to hand, willing to dedicate their last breath to this dream of freedom. 

However, as the chaos erupted further, the remaining San Patricios raised the white flag and accepted their fate. Once again their future was no longer in their own hands. 

Legacy 

Those who were not killed in battle marched to trials. The punishment for deserters was death by hanging, which most of the San Patricios were sentenced to. Although they never knew the freedom they fought for - much like Patrick Sarsfield - the San Patricios have been remembered by Mexico. Streets, plazas and public buildings have been named after them. The Battlion's name is also written in gold letters in the chamber of Mexico's House of Representatives and both Ireland and Mexico have jointly issued commemorative stamps in honour of the Battalion. 

Commemorating the San Ptricios in Mexico 

The Wild Geese 'Untamed' tattoo has been designed to remember and celebrate inspiring figures like the San Patricios

Father of The Battallón de San Patricio: Jon Riley

The Story of The Wild Geese is timeless. A search for Freedom.

This was certainly true of the Irish emigrants of the 1840s who travelled to North American searching for Freedom from oppression and hardship. However, upon arrival on the continent, it quickly became apparent that their dream of freedom was far from a reality. 

Faced with a nativist ideology in North America, many Irish immigrants were ghettoised and treated poorly by their new nation. But for many, the American Army offered a chance to pursue freedom and integrate into a new community. Among them was Jon Riley, who joined the army in the hopes of fighting the British. But, like Patrick Sarsfield, Riley was soon faced with a stark choice. With an impending invasion of Mexico by North America, Riley chose to abandon his army post and joined the Mexicans in their struggle for Freedom.

Call To Arms 

Born in County Galway in 1818, Riley emigrated to North America in 1843 - landing in Michigan already an experienced soldier and artilleryman. His artillery skills were desperately needed by the Mexican army and quickly shone in battle, providing vital support for the Mexican forces. 

'One Man's Hero' is a 1999 film based on the story
of Jon Riley and the Saint Patrick's Battalion

It was then decided that the Mexican army should establish a foreign battalion, which Riley would lead. He soon made the famous flag of the Battallón de San Patricio - which had 'Erin Go Bragh' (Ireland Forever) written across it - and the Battalion grew in numbers as more and more joined their campaign for freedom.

At the close of the war, many of the San Patricios were tried as deserters to the US army and hanged. Riley was not among them, however, and was imprisoned. He was tormented with lashings and branded with a 'D' on both of his cheeks, marking his decision to dessert the US army. Eventually, he was released from prison and allowed to live in the country he fought for. 

Statue commemorating the Saint
Patrick's Battalion in Co. Galway

Although it's tragic that Riley never truly knew the freedom he sought, his actions have been honoured in both Ireland and Mexico. Mexico produced a bronze statue commemorating the Battallón de San Patricio, which it gave to Ireland as a gift. This has been placed in Cliften, Co. Galway - the birthplace of the San Patricios' leader. 

Wild Geese in Mexico: The Battalón de San Patricio

Ireland has seen many waves of migration since 1691. 'The Wild Geese' who left their homes over the centuries were faced with an uncertain future, but chose to take control of their own lives and shape their own destiny. 

 

A very  important chapter in the story of The Wild Geese took place in Mexico in the 1840s. Over a million people emigrated from Ireland to America between 1840-1850. Escaping the infamous famine, these people sought new opportunities, and many joined the American army. However, when they were faced with an invasion of Mexico, a group of Irish soldiers - led by a man named Jon Riley - joined the Mexican army to aid in the country's struggle for freedom. 

They formed The Battalón de San Patricio - 'Saint Patrick's Battalion'. Comprised of primarily Irish and German immigrants, and African American slaves the Battalion sympathised with the struggle of Mexico, coming together in the hope of securing Freedom. 

The Battalón de San Patricio flew a green flag, which read 'Erin Go Bragh' - which means 'Ireland Forever' - as they marched towards the battle field, keeping their homeland close to their hearts and igniting the fire that had started over a century before hand by Patrick Sarsfield. 

Irish Guests at Seattle's Bumbershoot Festival

Although The Wild Geese contributed to many communities across the world, their Irish identity is part of the heart of the story. It came to embody their hopes and dreams, and sparked a culture that can be found in many different countries.

Literature has been a significant part of Irish identity for centuries, and the international fascination with the literature that has been inspired by Ireland continues to this day.

At the Bumbershoot Festival this year - which takes place in Seattle, Washington on Labor Day weekend - a group of three contemporary Irish writers will be discussing 'how the romanticism and legend of Dublin has impacted their own writing'.

Chris Binchy, Kevin Holohan and Claire Kilroy will all come together on September 5th. All three currently live in Dublin, and the city is woven into many of their works - in some cases becoming such a prominent backdrop that the capital is anthropomorphised into a multi-layered character of its own.

Chris Binchy used his experiences as a chef to build up a working Dublin with many different faces in The Very Man:

'For him the flush, self-regarding Dublin in that novel can be compared to a restaurant - "Front of house is air-conditioned, perfumed and glitzy, but behind the scenes it's greasy, 35 degrees"'

Although The Wild Geese dreamed of returning to Ireland, in a sense, they brought the cultural influence of the country with them. Living in contemporary Dublin is a prevalent experience for writers and images of the city can clearly inform their writing, and fuels the fascination with Irish culture that began after the migration of 1691. 

A Fusion of Irish and American Culture

Flogging Molly have been included on the Lolapalooza lineup, one of the biggest festivals in the US. The band is a fusion of Irish and American culture, intertwining Irish folk with contemporary punk. You can check out the result below:

The formation of Flogging Molly is a modern chapter of The Wild Geese story. Dublin-born Dave King had already garnered considerable experience in the music industry by the time Flogging Molly formed in 1997, having previously been part of heavy metal band Fastway and hard rock band Katmandu.

King soon decided to work on a solo album, and wanted to include traditional Irish instruments to combine two starkly different sounds. King's record label did not approve of this however, and like The Wild Geese in 1691, he was forced to turn away from his record deal and go his own way, with only his passionate and innovative spirit to support him.

King soon met Bridget Regan - a fiddle player and King's future wife - Ted Hutt (guitarist) and Jeff Peters (Bassist) and began to playing traditional Irish music and rock ballads, primarily in an Irish bar in LA called Molly Malone's, where they played a weekly set.

'It's a neighbourhood pub smack in the middle of a big city. Guinness and Harp are on tap, the patrons are friendly (but sometimes dangerous), and overall, the spot is downright welcoming and cozy. In other words, it was the perfect birthplace for Flogging Molly' 

Steadily gathering a strong following, the band chose a name, honouring Molly Malone's as a place where they worked exceptionally hard and discovered the kind of music they wanted to make. In 1997 Flogging Molly was born.

The band has toured the globe and are regulars on the festival circuit, their music lending itself perfectly to the fun-filled atmosphere of summertime festivals. It's inspiring that Dave King turned away from the security of a record deal, in order to make the music he wanted to - a potent characteristic of The Wild Geese.

Strong Plea at Oxegen

Every now and then a band gets a big break - an opportunity to showcase their talents on a global stage - and like The Wild Geese suddenly find themselves in a sink or swim situation. Last weekend at Oxegen, Inishowen band The Plea certainly didn't sink and have had people talking about their 'meteoric rise from nowhere'. 

Brothers Denny and Dermot Doherty formed the band after performing to small audiences in London and Boston, and recording an unreleased album in Minnesota. Upon returning to their hometown Ballyliffin, they joined drummer Gerry Strawbridge and bassist Paul Toland, forming The Plea. 

The band quickly started to share their original songs on MySpace, and collected fans who were in search of something new for their iPods. This foundation opened up opportunities to regularly play local gigs, including the DylanFest in Lough. 

Last Friday night, they performed on the Vodafone Stage at Oxegen and made a resounding impact, marking a very important chapter in their inspirational journey. Their hard work and dedication have brought them very far in a short amount of time. But its really encouraging to think that The Plea are only just getting started. One Inishowen local said:

'From watching them in their early years in bars... I felt an overwhelming sense of pride for what The Plea has achieved. They are doing what many of us dream of, but I have to say I wasn't surprised.'

'they have made it, and it can't have been an easy road, but it goes to show what hard work and dedication can achieve.'

Oxegen Festival Offers Moore Variety

Ireland hosted one of the most important festivals on the summer circuit last weekend. The Oxegen Festival had an impressive line-up, but the highlight came when Irish folk legend Christy Moore joined Coldplay on the main stage for a one-off duet.

Christy Moore performing with Coldplay's Chris Martin

Christy Moore has had an illustrious career, including the formation of two bands and spanning over 40 years. He joined Coldplay for their final song, where frontman Chris Martin introduced him to the stage:

'Kildare has never had its local son come on and sing. He's been one of our heroes since we were kids'

Moore then proceeded to lead a rendition of Jimmy MacCarthy's Ride On - the title track of Moore's 1984 album - and one of Coldplay's all time favourite song. With the 60,000 strong crowd singing along and occasionally drowning out Moore's voice, it was clear that he was warmly welcomed home. 

We loved seeing a festival that displayed the best of contemporary music, as well as inviting the crowd to enjoy a traditional Irish artist. Just hours before performing, Christy Moore wrote on his website: 'Coldplay have invited me to sing a song with them in my native place. These are the fields I roamed as a boy'. The surprise performance serves as a reminder of the dreams of The Wild Geese - to return home as heroes - is still being realised today. 

In 2004, Christy Moore received an IRMA Honour, which is the highest honour in the Irish Recorded Music Association and his appearance at Oxegen serves as a reminder of his talents. Moore hailed the performance as a 'grand outing', and you can take a look at it here:

Finding Your Irish Connection

The Emerald Origins App

The story of The Wild Geese is the beginning of Irish migration throughout the world and the impact that this had on countless communities. But although The Wild Geese left Ireland voluntarily in 1691, they hoped that this would not be for long.

Although Sarsfield would never return to Ireland, Wild Geese are continuing their journey home. Following the successful visit of Barack Obama, there has been a resurgence in people in search of their Irish ancestry. In response to this, Emerald Origins, a Dublin-based company, has developed an app for the iPhone which will give people 'a brief family history, with locations and photos'.

Obama explores his Irish ancestry in Moneygall

Emerald Origins says that interest in the application has jumped a massive 300 percent since [Obama's] high profile visit. 

'it's interesting... while we expected a large amount of interest from the States and Australia, we've been really surprised with the amount of Irish people who want to find out where they come from too' said Richard Egan, Managing Director of Emerald Origins. 

Oxegen Festival

As we've been discovering, Ireland is a hotbed for music. Talented artists are making their names known throughout the world, but Ireland also plays host to a string of popular festivals - where music of all kinds come together. One of the most successful is the Oxegen Festival, which will take place this weekend at Pauchestown Racecourse in Co. Kildare.

The line-up is rich with well known talent, which isn't surprising. Last year the festival won the Best Line-Up at The Irish Festival Awards. The 2010 line-up included Muse, Eminem, Arcade Fire and Jay-Z. However, Oxegen also won this award at the European Festival Awards ceremony in Groningen, Holland.

This recognition is attracting visitors from all over the world, and throughout the weekend the important eyes in the music industry will be fixed upon Ireland, so it's a great place to showcase some local talent. The Script will be one of the headliners on the main stage and Two Door Cinema Club and Imelda May will be making an appearance.

Here's a preview of what a weekend at Oxegen looks like, when Snow Patrol performed in 2009:

Cashier No. 9

One group that passed through the Oh Yeah Music Centre was Cashier No. 9. The psychedelic pop band is guitarist Danny Todd's second venture, formed in Belfast and the group has been 'innovative and different as anything that's come from the city'.

The band was featured on the album 'Oh Yeah Sessions', the programme's first collection of artists, released in 2008. Since then, Cashier No. 9 'have been making some waves, representing Belfast at London's Electric Proms, performing at New York's Knitting Factory and Brighton's Great Escape' (The Guardian).


Cashier No. 9 have recently released their album 'To The Death of Fun', which is receiving impressive reactions already. The band have said 'it's good to finally get it out there' after spending a year working on it and selecting the right tracks. But it's also really encouraging to see Irish culture still touching different parts of the globe, and offering enticing music for people to discover. The Wild Geese Irish Whiskey celebrates this, and is keen to help spread the word:

You can also listen to an interview with the band on BBC Radio 6 where they give some insight into the production of their album. 

Nucleus of Irish Culture

We recently took a look at what the Irish music scene sounds like. Irish artists are making their impact all over the world, and the industry is rapidly growing. Nurturing the up and coming talent is the 'Oh Yeah' music centre in Belfast. Located in the Cathedral Quarter of the city, the centre supports Irish talents by providing a performance space, recording studios and specific areas for artists to write music.

As a place to exhibit one of Ireland's growing exports, Oh Yeah is a not-for-profit organisation conceived in 2005 when Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol fame met with influencers in the music industry. The foundation of the centre has been to 'Open Doors To Music Potential' and has released albums which showcase a selection of the talent it has encouraged. A tour was arranged following the release of the 2010 album 'Oh Yeah Contenders' - giving new artists a solid foundation to continuing making music.

One review, from Music Link said 'the gig itself didn't really feel like a bog-standard local gig, it definitely had an air of something different about it'.

Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody performs at the opening of the Oh Yeah Music Centre

The Oh Yeah Music Centre is not just an inspirational programme, but it gives young artists a space to channel their passions and communicate new ideas. In an industry that is all too often saturated with big budget music labels, the Oh Yeah programme works hard to dilute what's on offer.

Here's one of the bands that the Oh Yeah centre has worked with - The Wonder Villains - performing at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend in 2010.

Clearly the Oh Yeah centre is doing a very good job at helping to export Irish culture throughout the world - a key characteristic of The Wild Geese, who integrated their passionate ideas into communities throughout the world.

Happy 4th July!

Today marks the birth of the US and a celebration of freedom. Over a year after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, thirteen colonies of the British Empire joined together to declare themselves independent territories. This was recorded in The Declaration of Independence (1776), signed by representatives from these territories and became the foundation of the 'American Dream'. 


Celebrated across the US, The Fourth of July is an integral part of story of The Wild Geese. Since leaving Ireland in 1691, The Wild Geese touched every corner of the world. 

Today is a monumental realisation of what The Wild Geese - throughout the centuries - fought for: 

Through oppression and famine they created a beautiful dream - Freedom For Everyone

Imelda May is a haunting Irish export. The Dubliner started her career in the music industry when she was just 16 - sometimes being barred from her own gigs because she was underage - and performed on the acoustic stage at Glastonbury on Sunday night.

'I was getting tips from the best musicians in Dublin. One of them said, "Your voice is great, but it needs to roughen"' she says on her website. Imelda was a unique individual from a very young age, refusing to follow the music trends all of her classmates did. Instead, she was draw towards Rockabilly and Blues. She remembers the turning point of her music career after being confronted by heartbreak, her father said: 'is your heart broken? Excellent. Now you can sing the blues'.

Like The Wild Geese, May's raw talent is Untamed. 

Becoming popular on the Dublin music scene, Imelda was determined to build on this momentum. She released her debut album, 'Love Tattoo', through her own label in 2006 and went on to win the 'Female Artist of the Year' at the Irish Meteor Awards.

Winning the Female Artist of the Year at the Irish Meteor Awards

Imelda May also recently performed for Barrack Obama during his visit to Ireland in May. Alongside other Irish performers - it was a day for Wild Geese from all over the world to come together in a celebration of their shared heritage:

'It was a great honour to perform along with the cream of Irish talent for O'Bama and a pleasure to meet him and Michelle. The atmosphere was electric. The speeches were inspirational and bought fire to my heart and a tear to my eye'.

Wild Geese Continue Their Winning Streak

The Republic of Ireland football team won a shock victory over Italy on Monday night, when they faced off in Liege, Belgium. The win over the four time world champions followed Ireland's Carling Nations Cup success and their win over Macedonia which qualified them for the Euro 2012 tournament.

Ireland's manager, Giovanni Trapattoni took made a brave decision to effectively play a reserve team believing that this would give younger, inexperienced players the opportunity to gain much needed international experience.


Ireland's latest string of victories have revealed the talent and determination of many of their players. Simon Cox, scored one of the goals that lead Ireland to beating Italy less than a month after his debut:


'It's been a great few months. I have enjoyed my club football and then to get the call-up to come away with Ireland was a terrific boost for me... Then to get a goal on my debut, and then get a goal against Italy was just great'.


Cox was eligible to play for Ireland because of his Irish roots - linking back to his Irish born grandmother - and exemplifies the dream of The Wild Geese. Although, they left Ireland, they dreamed of one day returning. Although many of them didn't get the opportunity to return, their legacy continues into the modern day. Simon Cox retuning to represent his country is a humbling realisation of this dream. Looking back at the match, Cox said 'It's an unbelievable honour for me'.


A few days before the match with Italy, Robbie Keane entered the record books after scoring his 50th international goal and becoming the highest goalscorer in Britain and Ireland. After inspecting the list of top goalscorers, Keane commented: 'I am very delighted and very proud to be amongst that elite. But for me, it's all about the team and the team performs'.

'You can set your stall out to reach certain goals, and my goal was to reach Niall Quinn's record [of 21]. I reached that and then you look to another one, so I am obviously delighted that I did that. When I first came into the Ireland squad, Niall Quinn said to me I would get 50 goals, so it's probably down to him'.


Some exemplary achievements of modern day Wild Geese.