Latest news with #Celtic-inspired
Daily Record
09-05-2025
- General
- Daily Record
'Outstanding' pistols go on public display in rural Stirling village where they were made in the 1700s
The American War of Independence was said to be started by a shot from a Doune-made pistol in 1775 and only a few hundred examples of genuine 'Doune Pistols' are known to remain around the world today. Ten 18th-century pistols have returned to their place of origin in an extraordinary homecoming for the historic village of Doune. Once part of a private collection, the pistols are now on permanent public display at the community's Information and Heritage Centre in the village. Forming the centrepiece of new heritage exhibitions, the collection has been gifted to Kilmadock Development Trust (KDT) by collector Andrew Yool in a remarkable act of generosity. Crafted by six different Doune hammermen in the 1700s, the pistols are said to be outstanding examples of the artistry that made the village a renowned centre of gunsmithing. Each piece features elaborate decoration, often Celtic-inspired, applied through fine engraving and silver wire inlay. 'The fact that a representative selection by the most well-known local hammermen has finally found a permanent home on display at Doune for all to see and admire is undoubtedly an occasion for celebration,' said collector Andrew Yool. 'These flintlock firearms are of unique design, construction and decoration, instantly recognised and appreciated worldwide as iconic examples of Scottish ingenuity, craftsmanship and enterprise, as a result of which they have earned international fame for the village of Doune where they were made 300 years ago.' The roots of Doune's pistolmaking tradition trace back to 1646, when Thomas Caddell brought the gunsmith trade to the village. With iron scarce, he made use of old horseshoe nails and, through dedication to his craft, developed a level of refinement that defined the Doune style much sought-after around Europe. His legacy passed down through generations of apprentices, establishing Doune as the heart of Scotland's pistolmaking industry. After the Jacobite's defeat at Culloden, Scottish mercenaries fled abroad, taking there arms with them. It is said that the American War of Independence was started by a shot from a Doune-made pistol at the Battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775; later described as being the 'shot heard round the world'. Only a few hundred examples of genuine 'Doune Pistols' are known to remain in museums and private collections around the world today. Karen Ross, Chair of KDT says: 'We are thrilled that such a unique part of Doune's history is now on display in the village where they were made, and are grateful to Mr Yool for his generosity. 'While having a practical function, the pistols really are fine works of art and would have taken countless hours of craftsmanship by candlelight to bring to fruition.' While relatively small places, Doune and Deanston have a wealth of history to delve into. These are featured in the new heritage exhibitions at the Information and Heritage Centre, which have been funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Run by local volunteers, and open throughout the week, visitors are invited to come spend some time and discover the stories of Scotland's historic crossroads.
The National
04-05-2025
- General
- The National
Historic 300-year-old pistols make 'extraordinary homecoming'
The eighteenth-century pistols were part of a private collection but are now on permanent public display at the community's Information and Heritage Centre in Doune. The collection has been gifted to the Kilmadock Development Trust (KDT) by collector Andrew Yool in an act which the trust has described as remarkably generous. Crafted by six different Doune hammermen in the 1700s, the pistols will form the centrepiece of the new heritage exhibition at the centre. READ MORE: Schools will be made to teach students to 'love Britain' if Nigel Farage becomes PM Each pistol features elaborate decoration, often Celtic-inspired, applied through fine engraving and silver wire inlay. Collector Yool (below) said the historic artefacts are outstanding examples of the artistry that made the village a renowned centre of gunsmithing. (Image: Kilmadock Development Trust) He said: 'The fact that a representative selection by the most well-known local hammermen has finally found a permanent home on display at the Doune for all to see and admire is undoubtedly an occasion for celebration. 'These flintlock firearms are of unique design, construction and decoration, instantly recognised and appreciated worldwide as iconic examples of Scottish ingenuity, craftsmanship and enterprise, as a result of which they have earned international fame for the village of Doune where they were made 300 years ago.' Doune's pistol-making roots can be traced back to 1646, when Thomas Caddell brought the gunsmith trade to the village. With iron scarce, Caddell made use of old horseshoe nails and, through dedication to his craft, developed a level of refinement that defined the Doune style, which was much sought-after around Europe. (Image: Kilmadock Development Trust) According to the trust, his legacy passed down through generations of apprentices, helping to establish Doune as the heart of Scotland's pistol-making industry. After the Jacobites' defeat at Culloden, Scottish mercenaries fled abroad, taking their arms with them, and it is said that the American War of Independence was started by a shot from a Doune-made pistol at the Battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775. It was later described as being the 'shot heard round the world'. Only a few hundred examples of genuine Doune Pistols are known to remain in museums and private collections around the world today, the trust has said. (Image: Kilmadock Development Trust) Karen Ross, chair of KDT, said: 'We are thrilled that such a unique part of Doune's history is now on display in the village where they were made, and are grateful to Mr Yool for his generosity. 'While having a practical function, the pistols really are fine works of art and would have taken countless hours of craftsmanship by candlelight to bring to fruition.'
Forbes
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Meet The Irish Label Bringing Celtic Heritage To Football Fashion
Pellador x Guiness collection It's no secret that Irish culture has seen a notable uptake in international popularity over the past few years. From Paul Mescal mania to global sold-out Fountaines DC and Kneecap tours to contemporary Irish authors topping the bestsellers lists, the hunger for Irish culture worldwide seems insatiable—and it's now taking over our wardrobes. Pellador is the brainchild of Irish designer Greg Hall, who, in 2022, began designing apparel with Celtic-inspired motifs and imagery paired with one of his and the country's favorite pastimes. 'The one thing that I had to draw from other than my interest in Celtic art was football [soccer]. Growing up, that's mostly what I was into. So when I was starting to design, that's just what came out,' Hall told me on a Zoom call from the Pellador HQ in Limerick. 'Then I started looking at knitwear and it kind of just ended up being football kits [socccer apparel] that I started making. And then I realised that was a good starting point or concept for a brand where I could draw from a bit of both—the Celtic stuff and the football [soccer] stuff.' Pellador knit and graphic T-shirt captured on the streets of Dublin Sport fans may recognize the name from the label's 'Roy Jeanes,' a denim design that featured the face of legendary Irish soccer legend Roy Keane, that did the rounds on social media last year. To Pellador's delight, Keane wore a Pellador knit to a recording of The Overlap podcast a few months later in January 2025. Though many would agree that there's a serious conversation to be had about the importance of preserving and celebrating the Irish language and traditional Celtic symbols, Hall sees the power in taking a playful approach, demonstrated in his choice to host the presentation of Pellador's Summer 2025 collection at Skehans Freehouse, an Irish pub in a residential area of South East London. 'From being sort of outsia for the setting came from, Hall replied, ders in fashion, like we're not really l,ke fashion industry people like we didn't study fas." Hall continued,h'Lon ,or anything like that so we're just kind of like following our instinct to do something that's natural to us and maybe less conventional. I mean, the first reason [behind the choice in location] Pellador ribbed knit Another testament to the growing strength of Ireland's fashion community is the launch of Dublin Independent Fashion Week, which was born in 2023 and featured a presentation by Pellador as a part of its second installment last November. Hall and his team again rejected much of the traditional format and instead invited local friends to take part in the show, including one with some serious freestyling skills, to ensure that one of the main inspirations behind the designs isn't forgotten. When I raised the topic of the increased interest in Irish culture from those abroad, Hall shared, 'We've been going through a period of pride but in a more contemporary way, repurposing and reimaging the traditional elements of our culture and bringing them back into a modern way. In the past, people might have looking away from them and looked to other cultures for contemporary culture (to the U.S. or Britain), whereas now it's kind of taking our traditions and being proud of them. That's what we [Pellador] have been doing.' Pellador Summer 2025 show at Skehans Freehouse pub In the last six months alone, Pellador have seen their Instagram grow by 20,000 followers. According to Statista, a leading data and intelligence agency, the Irish fashion market is expected to have an annual growth rate of 8.36%, resulting in a projected market volume of US$2.50bn in the next four years. 'Maybe this recent popularity is about us having our own new, modern pride in ourselves and confidence. Maybe we're glowing as a result of that, haha. We're just kind of doing our own thing and if that resonates with people, then that's good I guess.' says Hall. 'In the beginning it was about trying to bring Irish symbols into contemporary design for Irish people to wear and that sort of happened. And now I'm seeing the same thing [happen internationally]. Like if we were making something that became popular in another country (like England or the U.S. or something), initially we would have thought that it would be something more universally appealing, but it's actually the niche Irish references that seem to be the most popular abroad.' Who would Pellador like to see wearing the brand next? 'Katie McAbe [Irish soccer star]. Jazzy [Irish pop singer]. Conan O'Brien.' Hall remarked with a giggle.
