Papal Tartan

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 9th September 10, 01:35 PM

Just for the record, there are NO profits from the St. Ninian tartan to date. The Catholic Media Office contacted the Scottish Tartans Authority to design a St. Ninian tartan, which is how I got the chance to be involved. The STA waived the normal design fee for the project.

So far scarves and neck ties have been made in the tartan, all of which are intended to be given as gifts to MSPs and to visiting dignitaries travelling with the Pope.

Children from some 14 schools named after St. Ninian will also be given kerchiefs printed with the tartan to wear while marching in the St. Ninian's Day parade this Sept. 16.

So, to date, no St. Ninian tartan has actually been sold, so it's a bit silly to speculate about where "profits" may be spent, as this is not a for profit endeavor.

There may or may not be plans to have it in production after the Papal Visit is over and I would assume if that were the case then a percentage of the proceeds would go towards some specified Catholic charity, but that's just one possible scenario for the future.

In any case, I think it's a great honor to have been able to be involved in the project and I am very happy to have the chance to have come across to Scotland to be present at the official launch today at Scottish Parliament.

**Cygnus** · 9th September 10, 01:39 PM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

In any case, I think it's a great honor to have been able to be involved in the project and I am very happy to have the chance to have come across to Scotland to be present at the official launch today at Scottish Parliament.

That is a great honour indeed! Congratulations and enjoy your visit!

**pdcorlis** · 9th September 10, 02:01 PM

Wow Matt, that's fantstic! Job well done!

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 9th September 10, 02:03 PM

A couple of more images. The cloth I had woven for a kilt for myself is slightly darker in hue than what was woven for the ties and scarves. Here's a nice shot of the tartan itself, plus one of me wearing the kilt. This was taken last week before my trip, but was the same outfit I wore in Edinburgh today.

**Bugbear** · 9th September 10, 02:14 PM

Congratulations, Matt, that's neat.

**Woot22** · 9th September 10, 02:19 PM

Congrats Matt. That is amazing you created a tartan that will be given as a gift to the Pope. Simply amazing, congrats again.

**Woot22** · 9th September 10, 02:26 PM

A bit off topic, but the image in the article shows piper Louise Marshall Millington. Anyone interested in great music should check out her band Cantara. I have been a fan for awhile now. I only know of one CD that they released awhile back but it is a good one for sure. Here is a link to her website.
http://www.pipeforscotland.com/