Wild Geese Stories: F. Scott Fitzgerald Still Star of The Show

Posted on May 15, 2013 by aaron

The Cannes Film Festival hosted the European premiere of The Great Gatsby last week, adding even more pizzazz to an already glamourous south coast of France. The latest revision of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s renowned novel is dripping with style but aims to maintain the allure of it’s source material, still widely thought of as one of America’s all time greatest novels.

F. Scott Fitzgerald chronicler, Patrick Coleman thinks that the story is still so accessible because it’s themes of disguise resonate with us from the very beginning of adulthood, and it doesn’t hurt that the novel ‘is just so beautifully written, those sentences are stunning sometimes, and that’s what prompts these revisits to the big screen’

The latest revisit is appropriately filled with Hollywood’s elite from master direct Baz Luhrmann to leading man Leonardo Dicaprio and love interest Carey Mulligan. It’s been said that the film is oozing with style that elicits Fitzgerald’s novel.

But not at the cost of the book. The novel has been central to the production for both cast and director, as Baz Luhrmann explained:

The sensational Leonardo Dicaprio (image by foto de chaubaby, via Flickr)

‘Whatever the choices (for the film), it was about one thing: revealing that book

‘Leonard [Dicaprio] would almost drive me crazy, but in a good way, because he would say “Are we honouring the book?”‘

F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote his own Wild Geese story. His parents both held Irish ancestry and he mapped his own journey from humble beginning to the writer of the time. Fitzgerald was a prominent figure of the ‘Jazz Age’ and pre dated the celebrity culture we know today. He was certainly a head of the curve, both as a writer and social figure.

‘He was a wild commercial success,’ explains Coleman. ‘No writer can become famous overnight, like a rock star, the way he did anymore’

The latest filmed opened a week earlier in the USA. Baz Luhrmann shared the story of a mysterious lady who attended the premier in New York:

‘She said “I think Scott would be proud of this film… and by the way, I love the music!”‘

The lady was Eleanor Lanahan, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s granddaughter. ‘So for me,’ the director continued, ‘that was about as good as it could possibly get’.

Elixir, San Francisco – The Place To Be

Posted on April 28, 2013 by aaron

Elixir in San Francisco has not only been recognised as one of the USA’s top bars, it is also one of it’s oldest. Its rich heritage means this is a place with bundles of character and plenty of charm. The perfect place then for us to celebrate one of the big events of the year: St Patrick’s Day.

Over the St Patrick’s weekend, we sponsored Elixir’s 10th Annual St Patrick’s Party, where our whiskey was poured as the feature product. Patrons enjoyed our Collection straight up and in two bespoke cocktails. We’ve got some fantastic videos from this event to share with you all, but first a little more about this impressive venue.

Recent evidence suggests that Elixir’s building has stood since 1858, meaning its location on the corner of 16th and Guerrero has seen the American nation develop.

From being one of the ‘Wildest of the Wild West’ saloons in the late 1800s to being a vessel for the new European immigrants of the 1900s to pass through. Elixir is found in the Mission Delores district of San Francisco, which itself has undergone many changes. Today it is a trendy area for young professional, a great art scene, but it was originally swallowed up by an expanding San Francisco after the Gold Rush era. It became a place for immigrant communities to live and make their way in America. Amongst these was a large Irish community, many of whom worked on the construction of one of the country’s iconic structures: San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge.

In March 2012 Elixir remembered and celebrated these Men of Action by featuring our Rare Irish Whiskey in their commemorative ‘The Mission’ cocktail. So it was fitting that we collaborated once again on celebrating the Irish heritage of the neighbourhood. Check out our new videos at Elixir which will be released this Thursday (May 2nd).

Men of Action: James Bowie – Defender of The Alamo

Posted on April 19, 2013 by aaron

Staue commemorating James Bowie outside of the Alamo

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

In Texas two Wild Geese fought 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 in January 1836, originally with orders to destroy the San Antonio Mission. However, he soon decided that the Alamo would be of great significance to Texas’ battle tactics. He wrote in a letter:

‘the salvation of Texas depends in great measure on keeping Bexar out of the hands of the 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 Texas Militia troops in the stand against the approaching tyranny during a 13 day siege. He would fight for the freedom of Texas until the bitter end. In the final days 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 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 the 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: Hollywood (Co. Wicklow) Star Tom Cruise Shares His Irish Ancestry

Posted on April 17, 2013 by aaron

Photo by Thais Araujo2 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’:

‘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’

Men of Action: ‘Majestic’ O’Connell Leads Victory Against Harlequins

Posted on April 8, 2013 by aaron

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.

Paul O’Connell in Ireland kit, playing against Argentina

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.

Travel Retail’s Wild Geese: Dominick O’Reilly

Posted on March 18, 2013 by aaron

You can enjoy our latest column in The Moodie Report below. Thank you to Dominick O’Reilly for providing some fantastic answers to our questions!

St Patrick’s Day Special: 15th March, Tasting at Harrods, London

Posted on March 8, 2013 by aaron

The Wild Geese Irish Whiskey tasting at Harrods
87-135 Brompton Road
Knightsbridge
London
SW1X 7XL
UK
http://www.harrods.com/

St Patrick’s Day Special: 14th March, Tasting at The Whiskey Exchange

Posted on March 8, 2013 by aaron

St Patrick’s Day Special: 13th March Tasting at Gerry’s Wine & Spirits, London

Posted on March 8, 2013 by aaron

St Patrick’s Day Special Event: Gerry’s Wine & Spirits, Soho, London
74 Old Compton Street
Soho, London
W1D 4UW
UK
http://www.gerrys.uk.com/

The Wild Geese Start It Up At Bill Wyman – Reworked

Posted on March 7, 2013 by aaron

Bill Wyman is a man of many talents. He played bass guitar for the seminal rock n’ roll band The Rolling Stones from 1962 – 1993; he’s written seven books; is an amateur archaeologist and designed a patented metal detector.

Recently another of his talents has been brought to the forefront in London: photography. Wyman’s love of art led him towards a proficiency for photography and his photographs have documented a life well lived. Many have hung in galleries al over the world, which offer an intimate look at his friends, passions and adventures.

A new exhibition in London sees a selection of artists come together and re-imagine some of his most interesting photographs. Bill Wyman – Reworked opened on the 26th February to a bustling crowd of 500 guest. We were there to provide a selection of cocktails for the guests to enjoy while viewing the artwork. The Untamed nature of The Wild Geese blended perfectly with the stunning art on display.