Amazing, A Mexican Baja in Irish National Tartan

[Riverkilt]

Know the Mexicans and Irish have a solid history, but never would have thunk there'd be a baja in the Irish National Tartan. Looks like it would be great for wearing with solid color knock around kilts.

Its made from the usual acrylic that baja's are made of (bajas are sort of hooded sweatshirts with a front pouch, though this seems to have side pockets. They're popular for beach wear on the west coast. Very comfortable)

I'll see if I can post a pic here. The company Creative Irish Gifts at www.shopirish.com has given me good service over the years.

Price is a bit much for the usual $15.00 baja, depending on size, but this is obviously a special weave. Price is from $30 to $36 for us 3XL big guys.

Ron

[Doc Hudson]

There is an Irish-Mexican connection. Consider the San Patrico Battalion during the Mexican-American War. It was made up predominantly of Irishmen and was the best artillery battalion in the Mexican Army.

[macwilkin]

There is an Irish-Mexican connection. Consider the San Patrico Battalion during the Mexican-American War. It was made up predominantly of Irishmen and was the best artillery battalion in the Mexican Army.

To add to Doc's post, many of the San Patricios were deserters from the US Army; some were Irish immigrants, who later claimed to have a sense of soldidarity with their Mexican opponents, but others were not Irish at all -- English, Scots, Poles, etc. -- members of the foreign community of Mexico City who were conscripted into the Mexican Army to fight the Norteamericanos.

Robert Miller's "Shamrock & Sword" is the best history of the San Patricio Battalion.

There were many Irish expats who served in the Spanish Army in the American colonies, such as the founder of the Presidio at Tucson, Hugo O'Connor (the Spanish called him Oconor).

Cheers,

Todd

[Doc Hudson]

To add to Doc's post, many of the San Patricios were deserters from the US Army; some were Irish immigrants, who later claimed to have a sense of soldidarity with their Mexican opponents, but others were not Irish at all -- English, Scots, Poles, etc. -- members of the foreign community of Mexico City who were conscripted into the Mexican Army to fight the Norteamericanos.

Robert Miller's "Shamrock & Sword" is the best history of the San Patricio Battalion.

There were many Irish expats who served in the Spanish Army in the American colonies, such as the founder of the Presidio at Tucson, Hugo O'Connor (the Spanish called him Oconor).

Cheers,

Todd

And while we are at it, let us not forget the Liberator of Chili, Bernardo O'Higgins. Son of a Spanish mother and Irish ex-patriate father.

[Riverkilt]

Well, I ordered one this morning. If its as nice as I hope it is I'll probably need to order a saffron kilt to go with it!


Ron

[Riverkilt]

Arrived today. Very nice. Well worth the price. Label inside says Cabin Fever but can't find the site on the Internet. Wondered if they had other tartans.

Ron

[motorman4life]

I am a Celtic mongrel of sorts.. Scot, Irish, English, Swede.. I like the baja and was going to pick one up through their site. The shipping was $7.99 which brought mine up to $42+

I browsed around the 'net for a coupon code and found "free shipping" coupons for the shopirish.com site in many places. I tried the links/codes to no avail. I called their 800# to be told all coupons expired last month.

Well, the Scot in me just won't let me pay $42+ for a $15 baja that I could have gotten for under $36 9 days ago! Damn! I guess I'll wait until (a) I find one at the Salvation Army (b) They bring back their free shipping coupon or (c) I win the lottery.. oh, and (d) hell freezes over.

[Riverkilt]

Wild adventure eh?

Gotta tell you motor, mine came in and its not at all like the Mexican baja you can usually pick up for $15. Much nicer. Its more like a brushed cotton look/feel. Not the loose weave...and no sign of that special smell of the cheap bajas.

It was worth it in my opinion. I picked up a 3X to be sure it fit and they cut them generously. The sleeves on mine were long enough to double back the cuff up to my elbow to get the sleeves wrist length (33" on me).

I'm real pleased. I think the catalog folks made a mistake calling it a baja instead of a pull over. It doesn't have the kangaroo front pocket a cheap baja does, just the side seam pockets. Pullover is a better description. That lets the Irish National Tartan pattern show much better.

Found the manufacturer's website at www.ramatexinternational.com but no way I could find to order direct. Does help you see the level of quality of the goods.

Ron

[jfellrath]

Like you sort of said, Ron... I can see this looking really good with a saffron solid kilt or even some of the tan PKs, UKs, etc. Your report on the worksmanship is very welcome, thanks! May have to pick up one of these for myself.