Men of Action: James Bowie, San Antonio Texas

Posted on April 21, 2013 by AaronM

Monument to James Bowie outside the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas.

Wild Geese have flown far from Ireland since 1691. Many settled in new communities and raised families far from Ireland, writing new strands in the Legend of The Wild Geese. No matter how far they traveled their ancestry and dream of freedom for everyone has united them.

Two Wild Geese were prominent figures in the Battle of The Alamo in 1836: Davy Crockett and James Bowie.

James Bowie fought as part of the Texas Militia fighting the Mexican army lead by Santa Ana for the freedom of Texas. He marched into the Alamo in San Antonio de Bexar (modern day San Antonio) in January 1836 with orders to destroy the Mission. However, he soon decided that the Alamo would be very important to securing Texas. He wrote in a letter:

‘the salvation of Texas depends in great measure on keeping Bexar out of the hands of enemy… I have come to the solemn resolution that I would rather die in these ditches than give it up to the enemy’

Bowie pledged himself to this for the remainder of his days. He lead the Texas Militia troops in the stand against the approaching tyranny during a 13 day siege.

In the final days of the defense of the Alamo, he suffered pneumonia and as the Alamo was eventually stormed by the Mexican army, it is said that he even fought from his death bed, determined to stand against the enemy until his final breath.

Although the Alamo fell to the Mexican army in March 1836, the sacrifices of the brave men at the Alamo spurred on the Texas forces who defeated Santa Ana’s army a month later in April 1836.

James Bowie, a true Man of Action, did not die in vein.

The Alamo, San Antonio Texas

Wild Geese Stories: Tom Cruise Shares His Irish Heritage

Posted on April 17, 2013 by AaronM

Image from Thais Aranjo2 via Flickr Creative Commons

Our story begins in 1691 when Patrick Sarsfield and his followers left Ireland, hoping and believing that they would one day return. Since then countless ‘Wild Geese’ have left Ireland, their extraordinary stories being interwoven with the Legend of The Wild Geese.

Recently Hollywood (that’s Hollywood Co. Wicklow) mega-star Tom Cruise discovered his Wild Geese story when he was presented with a ‘Certificate of Irish Heritage’ during his visit to Dublin for the Irish premiere of Oblivion.

‘It was incredible. As a gift they went and researched my family. They traced my family back to the ninth century in Ireland

‘I had no idea it went back that far. I found our my ancestors were the rulers on north Ireland and they owned a town called Hollywood [in Co. Wicklow]‘

As it turns out, one of Cruise’s ancestors, Patrick Russell Cruise, was most definitely a ‘Man of Action’, as he explained on Jimmy Kimmel Live:

‘He was in New York and this guy who helped with running the family estates wanted to throw the tenants off the farm and he got on a boat, went all the way back, reinstated the tenants on the farm, fired the lawyer and they had this big dinner for him’

His family owned most of Dublin and genealogists showed Cruise the location of the family castle on a map, which he is keen to visit one day.

‘To learn about the history of my family – it was incredible. It’s a great honour for me and my whole family – I can’t wait to bring it back to them and enlighten them on their history… I’m very proud to be Irish. There’s pride in America of being Irish. I can’t wait to come back and I want to visit the land of my ancestors and the castle that they held’.

Men of Action: O’Connell Storms Pitch On His Return To Rugby

Posted on April 8, 2013 by AaronM

There was tough competition for the man of the match during the weekend’s Heineken Cup quarter final, when Munster beat back old rivals the Harlequins. Although the game didn’t see any tries scored, we were all treated to classic, get-stuck-in rugby.

Munster secured a win against the London team with a final score of 18-12. While it was Ronan O’Gara who landed 6 penalties, the might Lions charged into battle under the leadership of a returning Paul O’Connell. And since he first stepped onto the pitch this past Sunday all eyes have been on O’Connell. His effect on the team has been undeniable, with a powerful display of leadership that reminds us of Patrick Sarsfield.

‘He has this empathetic outlook on life – he sees things through other people’s eyes, and he has this understanding that makes everyone feel good to be around him. You couple that with his rugby ability and he is just a really complete man’

He even won praise from the rival Harlequin’s rugby director Conor O’Shea:

‘He was majestic. The whole team was physical but he was the totem that the whole team just rose around. He is arguably one of the greatest second rows, if not the greatest second row, that Ireland has ever produced’

Munster will now head into their 10th semi-final against Clermont Auvergne in Montpellier.

Men of Action: Daniel Day-Lewis Wins His Third Best Actor Oscar

Posted on February 25, 2013 by AaronM

First came the Golden Globe. Then came the SAG awards. Then the BAFTA. And now Daniel Day-Lewis has made cinema history by being the only man to win three Best Leading Man Oscars.

Daniel Day-Lewis accepts his third Best Actor Academy Award making Oscar history (Image by Disney ABC Television Group, via Flickr Creative Commons)

At the Academy Awards last night, he echoed the success he’s seen during this year’s awards season:

‘I really don’t know how any of this happened. I do know that I’ve received so much more than my fair share of good fortune in my life and I’m so grateful to the Academy for this beautiful honour’

Courage We think we have an idea how this happened. He’s been acting since the age of 14 has come to every role with a hugh level of respect and ambition for what may lay a head. When he accepted the role of Abraham Lincoln he found it had a ‘paralysing quality’ to it and the prospect of portraying one of the great American heroes was daunting. He initially declined the role, but his courageous spirit won out and he soon set to work researching the American President.

Commitment Daniel Daniel-Lewis is infamous for the intensity he brings to his roles. His method acting has lead to him learning to build canoes and hunt for The Last of the Mohicans, studying as a butcher for Gangs of New York and visiting disabled people at Dublin’s Sandymount School Clinic for his role in My Left Foot, for which he won his first Academy award. While visiting Sandymount he built strong relationships with those at the clinic.

However, this intensity hasn’t diminished his charm. In all his acceptance speeches this year he has displayed a humble gratitude and respect for all his colleagues. When accepting the Oscar for Lincoln, he paid tribute to the ‘mysteriously beautiful mind, body and spirit of Abraham Lincoln’

Flight Daniel Day-Lewis has always been ambitious and horizons ever widening. When he was younger he was enthralled by Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver, with lit a fire in him to explore American stories:

‘I just kept going back – I didn’t know America, but that was a glimpse of what America might be, and I realised that, contrary to expectation, I wanted to tell American stories’

By bringing to life one of the country’s greatest leaders he has certainly achieved this. No force seems to be able to quell Day-Lewis’ ambition and has made a significant impact on a culture he admires and loves. Just like a true Wild Geese.

Irish Talent: Irish Designer Zoe Jordan Lays Strong Foundations

Posted on February 18, 2013 by AaronM

Zoe Jordan was the talk of the town last weekend after she opened one of the biggest events in the fashion industry on Friday – London Fashion Week. The Dublin-born designer unveiled her fifth collection to very warm receptions from her peers and critics.

Titled ‘Foundations’, Jordan’s latest collection has been inspired by her love of architecture and what she has seen on her travels. She’s channeled an intrepid spirit shared by The Wild Geese into her latest designs:

‘My autumn/winter 2013 collection is inspired by Italian renaissance architecture, specifically with the Duomo in Florence. Juxtaposed with this opulence, I have also been looking at stark, minimalist, monochrome interiors. I studied architecture, so it has always been a strong influence in my work’

Jordan used the Duomo in Florence as inspiration for her latest collection, ‘Foundations’ (Photo by Steph Gray lesteph via Flickr Creative Commons)

Jordan first unveiled her solo designs in 2008, when she launched the line Irwin & Jordan in Ireland. As her ancestral home, it was a perfect place to show the world what she could so and she even set up a temporary store in the ‘House of Irish Design’ the Brown Thomas department store in Dublin.

Like The Wild Geese, she has transported her talents all over the world, bringing people both practical and stylish fashion that his still turning heads. As her designs continue to evolve, we’re sure to seen this intrepid spirt once again.

Men of Action: Adventurers Find Their Inner Shackleton

Posted on February 13, 2013 by AaronM

On a freezing Monday morning, Tim Jarvis and Barry Gray appeared on a white horizon as they edged closer to Stromness, a former whaling station in the Antarctic. This was the final destination in their expedition – an authentic recreation of Ernest Shackleton’s attempt to cross the Antarctic from coast to coast during the Endurance Expedition (1914-1917).

The original Endurance Expedition lead by Ernest Shackleton (Photo by santiagonostalgico, via Flickr Creative Commons)

The key here is an ‘authentic recreation’. Not only did Jarvis and Gray follow Shackleton’s route, they did it only using mountain-climbing gear and equipment that the original expedition would have used in the early 1900s. A brave decision given that a few days ago they were caught in white-out conditions, but for environmental scientist Travis Jarvis this was about honouring the brave:

‘These early explorers were iron men in wooden boats and while modern man mostly travels around in iron vessels, I hope we’ve been able to emulate some of what they achieved. There’s no doubt in my mind that everyone has a Shakleton double in them and I hope we’ve inspired a few people to find theirs’

Shackleton was born in Kilkea, Co. Kildare, Ireland. He had the intrepid spirit of The Wild Geese, and took to the seas at 16. He has become one of the prominent figures inn the Heroic Age of Antarctic Explorations, along with Captain Scott.

Its endearing to see how Jarvis and Gray have tried to connect with their hero by sharing in his experiences. When Shackleton’s eyes met those new horizons, its likely that he shared in the experiences of The Wild Geese when they left Ireland and faced the unknown in 1691. The legend continues.

Men of Action: Daniel Day-Lewis and George Clooney Win Big at BAFTAs

Posted on February 11, 2013 by AaronM

‘And the BAFTA goes to…’ read Sarah Jessica Parker. And we waited.

Seconds later Daniel Day-Lewis has risen to the stage and in front of an admiring audience delivered one of the more amusing, yet still humbling acceptance speeches of the night. For those of you who missed it, the Oscar hopeful made the speech of a lifetime, referencing his famous method acting, while gently making fun:

‘Just on the chance I might one day have to speak on an evening such as this I’ve actually stayed in character as myself for the last 55 years and had a various selection of Bafta sets downscaled, dating from the late fifties, placed in every single room of every house I’ve ever lived in and every time I rise from a chair it spontaneously unleashes a soundtrack of thunderous applause, with a few boos and drunken hecklers’

But there were no boos. Joking aside, his commitment to a character clearly works. Once again, his ability to bring a story to life has been recognised by the industry. Last month he picked up the Golden Globe and SAG awards for the same role. He’s now added his fourth BAFTA to that growing list, thanking Steven Spielberg for his time working on Lincoln and wishing they were ‘still on the expedition together’. Just one more step towards the Academy awards.

George Clooney at Toronto Film Festival 2008 (Photo by Josh Jensen via Flickr)

Another very nice surprise of the evening was when another of today’s Wild Geese turned up. The always dashing George Clooney attended in his producer role on Argo which was awarded Best Film. Sporting a healthy beard, we’re betting guys from London to LA will be growing facial hair to match his style.

Clooney has done some monumental work behind the camera in the past few years, so it was incredibly gratifying to see him pick up the BAFTA for Best Film with director Ben Afflect and co-producer Grant Heslov.

In his acceptance speech Clooney had nothing but praise for his director:

‘You’re smart and you know what you want but more important, you love what you’re doing’

Men of Action: Daniel Day-Lewis Still On The Road To Glory

Posted on February 8, 2013 by AaronM

We take one step closer to the Oscars this weekend when the best of the best fly into London for the annual BAFTA ceremony. Its a big deal to be recognised at the BAFTAs, and local bookmakers have named their favourite for the Best Actor award: Daniel Day-Lewis.

Daniel Day-Lewis in 2008 (Photo by chloe004 via Flickr)

Hot off of his win at the Golden Globes in January for his role in Lincoln, this is Daniel Day-Lewis’ sixth nomination and a win this Sunday would be his fourth win. He’s famously choosy when it comes to his roles, but when he commits to a role, he brings a performance that is entertaining, moving and critically acclaimed.

Daniel Day-Lewis is one of today’s Wild Geese. His father is of Irish descent, and he lived in England when he was growing up. But he’s always had a connection to Ireland, which he confirmed in 1993 when he moved to Wicklow:

‘I’ve always felt, more than any other place that I’ve been, that Wicklow is in harmony, complete harmony, with the demands that life has made’

Daniel Day-Lewis has realised Patrick Sarsfield’s dream on one day returning to Ireland. We celebrate this.

His successes overseas and return to Ireland is a modern day telling of The Wild Geese story. Its what our brand celebrates. We wish him luck and look forward to seeing the results this Sunday!

Men of Action: O’Driscoll Leads By The Way He Plays In Irish Rugby Victory

Posted on February 6, 2013 by AaronM

The 6 Nations Rugby Championship kicked off last weekend in Europe. The 6 Nations is a major competition in European rugby, and each year Ireland, England, Wales, Scotland, France and Italy come together on the field. Last weekend, Ireland opened the Championship with an impressive victory against Wales, where we saw the return of Brian O’Driscoll – a titan of Irish rugby.

Photo by Paul Walsh via Flickr Creative Commons

O’Driscoll was forced to sit out the 2012 6 Nations championship due to injury, which lasted into the autumn tournaments. This absence meant that he didn’t return to his usual position of team captain last weekend. Instead Jamie Heaslip took on that role, but this didn’t mean there was an internal battle for leadership.

Quite the opposite. O’Driscoll went into Ireland’s match against Wales with some of the ‘no quit’ attitude of The Wild Geese:

‘The captaincy doesn’t make any difference – I still see myself as a leader in the team and helping Jamie out where I can.

You don’t play any different if you’re captain. You always try to lead by the way you play’

O’Driscoll certainly did this. His actions are testament to a refusal to quit, and transcending injury and circumstance. The Wild Geese were faced with defeat in 1691, but persevered. They refused to quit and turn back.

After dominating the field in the first half, O’Driscoll helped to secure Ireland’s victory in the second half by scoring his 26th 6 Nations try. His performance won him the Man of the Match recognition and has energised Ireland for the rest of the tournament.

Men of Action: Wild Geese Explore New Opportunities In European Rugby

Posted on January 29, 2013 by AaronM

Photo by Darren Johnson via Flickr Creative Commons

European rugby is heading for a shake up. Now is a crucial time for the game, as European clubs could soon see Wild Geese flock to their stadiums.

In a move that echos the legend of The Wild Geese, Irish rugby star Jonathan Sexton will transfer to French club Racing Metro when the new season begins.

The Leinster fly-half recently faced the tough decision to move to the continent, and even though there was a battle to keep him in Ireland, this move will bring the layer brand new opportunities. Like The Wild Geese, this is a challenge he will embrace, as his Leinster team mate Rob Kearney outlined:

‘France is one of the new experiences that players will generally pinpoint in looking for a change. Johnny’s shown a lot of bravery. If it works out really well for him in that he’s enjoying life and playing good rugby while earning more money, people will see that and it will open up a whole new ball park’

France was the first destination The Wild Geese journeyed too lead by Patrick Sarsfield. Like with Sexton, it offered them new challenges to embrace, and the opportunity to display their skills. But like The Wild Geese, Sexton will carry Ireland in his heart during his new adventures. He will play in the Six Nations Tournament, which starts this weekend (Saturday 2nd February).

Although he’ll be missed by his team, they realise this is an opportunity he cannot miss.

‘He’s got married to a lovely girl and this is a new start in life for him,’ explained Leinster player Rob Kearney.

‘He’s excited about that and understands that he must jump head first into it’.

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