Tara (District) Tartan
- Name of Tartan:
- Tara (District)
- Alternative Name:
- Murphy, O'Keefe
- ITI Number:
- 1103
- Category:
- Irish District
- Designer / Source:
- Clans Originaux
- Date:
- pre 1967
- Slog:
- KGR:KRK
- Colour Sequence:
- KGRGTKNKOKRK
- Thread Count:
- K6 HG8 R4 HG48 OT32 K4 LN4 K4 GO4 K12 R4 K16
- Notes:
-
This tartan is a colour modification of MacLean of Duart. It was said to be first recorded in ‘Clan Originaux’ (c.1880) as Murphy, but was so popular it was renamed "Tara" — the earliest reference to that name 1967. see also O’Keefe. Sample in STA Johnston Collection + Lochcarron swatch + Dalgety Collection..
It has been accepted as fact for very many years that J Claude’s 1880 ‘Clans Originaux’ contained many Irish tartans. In 2003 the Tartans Authority obtained photo copies of the contents pages of the only copy known to exist and they revealed that of the 185 tartans shown, not one of them was Irish. This ‘fiction’ has been absorbed into tartan history unfortunately and it will take many years to eradicate.The only copy known to exist is owned by Pendleton Mills in Portland, Oregon.
