Living History

The 2009 Living History Participants will be updated as soon as they become available.

The Living History camps portray two millennia of Celtic life, from Iron Age tribes to the modern Celtic warrior, as well as some of the cultures that had a major influence on the Celtic world.  Everything you see and touch has been carefully researched and recreated.  Please feel free to enter the camps and ask questions.  Who knows, you may be talking to one of your ancestors.

 

Tuatha Preachain ­ Pre-Roman ­ 50 BC

Before Rome there was Celtic Europe.  But even as the Romans marched across the continent, Rome's influence spread far ahead of her armies through trade.

The Ordovices were Iron Age Celts who occupied a strategic position in northwest Wales along the northern trade route.  Here on the island of Anglesey, Welsh and Irish traders mingled with the olive-skinned merchants from the Mediterranean, exchanging ideas as freely as salt, wine, gold, silver, slaves and hides.  The Roman tide washed out of Britain four centuries after it first lapped its shores.  As the Roman Empire imploded, Germanic tribes pressed west across Europe and into Britain.  During these "Dark Ages" the Celts fled to the far west or adapted to living under their new masters.  A Romanized Briton from Wales by the name of Artos (Arthur) managed to stem the tide of Saxons.

 

Legio XX--The Twentieth Legion

The Twentieth Legion is a living history group which recreates the soldiers and civilians of ancient Rome.  Our usual focal point is 43 AD, though our members may portray soldiers of other eras in Rome's history as well.  The Roman army was the best of its day, and its ranks included large numbers of Gauls, Germans, and other non-Italian troops from all over the Empire. 

Contact:  Matthew Amt   matthew_amt@yahoo.com

 

 

 

 

 

MacLean's Company of McDonnell's Regiment of Irishe Foote

In 1644, during the English Civil War, King Charles I made James Graham, Marquis of Montrose, Lord Lieutenant General in Scotland-- in effect Charles'
representative in Scotland.  Montrose raised the King's standard at Blair Atholl Castle, and joined forces with Alaisdar MacColla and the three regiments
(MacDonnell, O'Cahan's, and McDermott) he raised in Ireland to fight against the Solemn League and Covenant in Scotland.  MacLean's was a small company of only 50 officers and men, in McDermott's Regiment.  It was an exciting time when anything seemed possible and ahead lay a string of hard-fought victories and long strategic marches that became known as the Year of Miracles.

Contact:  David Malinak  dragonmatchlock@verizon.net

 

 

The Appin Regiment ­ Jacobite ­ 1745

The Appin Regiment endeavours to accurately portray the Stewarts of Appin, a group of Scottish Highlanders, in the period of 1745-1746. Members of the Jacobite army of Prince Charles Edward Stuart(Stewart), the Appin Stewarts played a key role in the last and most widely known Jacobite uprisings in Scotland, which culminated in the disastrous battle on Culloden Moor on 16 April, 1746.

Contact: Mara Riley mara.riley@yahoo.com www.appins.org

 

 

 

Rogers' Rangers ­ French & Indian War ­ 1756-1763

Organized in 1756 by Robert Rogers, a Scotch-Irish farmer and woodsman, Rogers ’ Rangers were America ’s first Special Forces, Army Rangers, Green Berets, Navy Seals and Delta Force of Colonial America.  Wearing their Scots bonnets and green or brown frontier attire, they were the eyes and ears of the British army during the French and Indian War (1754-1763). Commissioned as part of the British Army, Rangers were unique in their hide-and-seek, hit-and-run-style of what is known today as “guerilla warfare” tactics; a form of fighting that was common to French and Indian forces, but not to British regulars. 

Contact:  Randy Flood  rgflood@cox.net

 

 

Her Britannic Majesty's Own - A Mid-Victorian Living History Group - 1854-1856
1st Foot, 23rd Foot, & Scots Fusilier Guards, with authentic military and civilian accounts.

Her Britannic Majesty's Own currently numbers five. Two members, W. Hutchison and F. Hall, take the historical impression of officers of the Scots Fusilier Guards. The third male member, R. FitzRoy D'Arlynn, has selected the 23d Foot, Royal Welch Fusiliers, as his historical regiment. Lady Swinston, gives a civilian impression, and discusses nursing, and the medical side of the war. During the Summer of 2005, a new impression was introduced, that of Bt 2nd Lt Colonel Edmond Haythorne, an officer in the 1st Regiment of Foot (The Royal Scots). All material has been thoroughly researched, and several members have visited the sites in the Crimean theater of war, and England, in order to continue their quest of history.

We attend specific living history events and act as interpretive volunteers for the National Park Service of the United States Department of the Interior, the Department of Natural Resources for the State of Maryland, and selected non-profit historical organizations in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia. Since the relocation of two of our members, we seek additional events in eastern Tennessee, southwest Virginia, northern Georgia, and western North & South Carolina. Contact: Don Rivera FourthUS@bellsouth.net www.cwreenactors.com/~crimean/.

 

 

28th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Co. B  1861

The 28th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers (the 2nd Irish Regiment) was recruited in the city of Boston and its surroundings during the fall of 1861 and was mustered into Federal service on December 13, 1861.  In December of 1862, just before the Battle of Fredericksburg, it finally joined the Irish Brigade for which it had originally been recruited.  At Fredericksburg, the regiment had the honor of carrying the only green harp flag on the field as the Irish Brigade attempted to storm the Confederate positions on Marye's Heights overlooking the town.  The regiment fought in every major battle of the Army of Potomac from 2nd Bull Run until Appomattox.  The reenactment Company B, 28th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was formed in 1985 with members principally from Northern Virginia (to include Richmond), Maryland, and the Washington DC area.  The 28th Mass is dedicated to an accurate portrayal of the Civil War soldier, both Irish and not, with an emphasis on battle drill and soldiering.  The unit participates in 3-4 major reenactments annually as well as many special living history and commemorative events.  Company B is happy to include civilian portrayals, male and female, especially those that reflect the Irish immigrant experience.

Contact: Robert A. Mosher at Chairman@28thmasscob.org.

 

 

Irish Transvaal Brigade - Second Anglo-Boer War - 1899–1902

The first of two Irish commandos that fought along side the Boers against the British forces during the Second Boer War (1899–1902)

Colonel John Blake, a former United States Army officer and West Pointer was the brigade's commander. When he was wounded, his second-in-command, Major John MacBride, took command.

Most of the Brigade were Irish miners living in the Transvaal, who were willing to fight with the Boers against the British. There was also a contingent of Irish-American’s who traveled to South Africa under the auspices of the Red Cross. Once in the Transvaal the majority removed their Red Cross armbands and took up rifles.

The brigade (also known as MacBride's Brigade) was operational from September 1899 to September 1900. In that time, the brigade fought in about 20 engagements, with 18 men killed and about 70 wounded from a compliment of no more than about 500 men at any one time. When it disbanded, most of the men crossed into Mozambique, which was a colony of neutral Portugal. Contact: Bob McDonough fenian98@hotmail.com (Irish Volunteer Historical Society).

 

 

 

Irish Guards ­ 1900-1987

The Irish Guards are the 4th Regiment of the Household Brigade, whose primary peacetime role is the protection of the reigning monarch. Since their formation in 1901 by order of Queen Victoria the “Micks” have been one of Britain’s elite regiments, serving in in all the far flung corners of the British empire. From the trenches of the Great War to the modern day, and most recently serving with distinction in Iraq in 2003, the Irish Guards have proven themselves time after time. Come sit and have a cuppa.

Contact: David Hughes irishguards@verizon.net .

 

 

 

The West Cork Flying Column -Irish War of Independence - 1919-1921

The West Cork Flying Column or 3rd (West) Cork Brigade of the Irish Republican Army was formed after the 1st Dail Eireann or Irish Parliament
was established in 1918. These Columns or "Active Service Units" were designed to attack police barracks and small garrisons. Convoy ambushes and assassinations were carried out as well by members of the Columns, which were able to strike hard and disappear rapidly should they be at risk or upon successful accomplishment of their mission. This particular Column won fame under the legendary command of Tom Barry. A former British soldier who trained the Column and led them in several successful ambushes of British Forces.

They were equipped with captured English weapons and equipment. The Volunteers rarely wore uniform, wearing mostly civilian attire. They were joined by the Cuman na mBan, a women's auxiliary to the Volunteers and the Fianna, a youth organization that both supported the Irish Republic.

Contact: Bob McDonough fenian98@hotmail.com (Irish Volunteer Historical Society).

 

 

Magik Badger Ironworks

Handcrafted Forged Metal Goods and Demonstrations
See Mike Cardiff hand forge metal goods as he discusses the history blacksmithing.

Contact: Mike Cardiff magikbadge@aol.com

 

 

The Rogue Scot

Tom portrays the hospitable Highland peddler, specializing in hand-painted bodhrans, as well as offering a variety of essential goods like handmade soaps, bags and pins.  Contact Tom McElroy @ hm (703) 526-0325.

 

Living History: Contact David and Jennifer Hughes @ hm (703) 799-1141