Wild Geese Support Irish Businesses

Posted on September 30, 2013 by aaron

When The Wild Geese left Ireland in 1691, they believed they were securing the freedom of the country. They held their heads high as they boarded ships at Limerick having chosen exile for the good of their people.

Inspired by their courage and commitment to Ireland, we are contributing to Donegal’s Back To Work Enterprise Allowance Scheme. In tough economic times, it’s important to display the same camaraderie as Patrick Sarsfield and his followers.

Named ‘The Wild Geese Enterprise Award’ this scheme will help generate local business and help to revitalise the local economy. The Wild Geese Company Chairman, Mr. Andre Levy explains:

‘The Wild Geese Irish Whiskey celebrates the courage and determination of the Irish people when faced with adversity, and their successes and achievements. It’s important that we also celebrate and encourage local individuals in Ireland who have fought through hardship to succeed. Schemes such as The Back To Work Enterprise Allowance in Donegal, where unemployment has been a major problem, offer the support and advice needed to allow individuals to forge their own path in business in Ireland rather than overseas’

The CEO of the Donegal Local Development Company Ltd, Dr Caoimhím Mac Aoidh, adds:

‘DLDC is delighted to accept this considerable and most generous sponsorship support from The Wild Geese Irish Whiskey. We recognise their sponsorship of The Wild Geese Enterprise Award is acknowledgement and admiration for the participants of the Back To Work Enterprise Allowance Scheme who have shown great courage and tenacity in setting up their businesses in such challenging times. Our partnership with The Wild Geese in this instance is an excellent one as that company has similarly proven to have great business acumen in developing their company and product range’

The first Wild Geese Enterprise Award will be presented in early 2014.
Find out more about the Back To Work Enterprise Allowance Scheme here: http://www.dldc.org/sip_business_startup.html

Wild Geese To Be Honoured At Tip O’Neill Award 2013

Posted on September 19, 2013 by aaron

We’re very proud to be returning to the Tip O’Neill Award as sponsors.

The award has been established to commemorate the life and achievements of US Speaker Tip O’Neill and celebrate the achievements of members of the diaspora who exceed expectations in the their chosen field. Much like Tip O’Neill did.

O’Neill fought for the Irish diaspora in the United States, by encouraging migration to the country, where Irish people could enjoy the same opportunities that he had experienced – to be the best that you can be. He served as Speaker of the US House of Representatives for ten years.

This year’s recipient is Brian Schweitzer, who served as Governor of Montana in the USA from 2005 – 2013. He is being recognised for his work in this role. As Governor, Me Schweitzer holds one of the highest approval ratings in US politics.

This Award proves that Wild Geese are still making an impact in all corners of the world and we’re very happy to be a part of this gathering. The Governor will be presented with a bottle of The Wild Geese Irish Whiskey.

The Gathering: The Connaught Telegraph Features The Wild Geese!

Posted on August 29, 2013 by aaron

We’re really pleased to see The Connaught Telegraph picked up our support of co. mayo’s flagship Gathering celebration!

Men of Action: Remembering Irish Designer David Collins

Posted on July 25, 2013 by aaron

The world bid farewell to David Collins earlier this week. The highly talented Irish designer and architect was widely loved and is sure to be missed, but he certainly left a lasting impression on the world.

Graduating from Dublin’s Bolton Street School of Architecture, he fell into the world of interior design by chance after a friend hired him to work on his home. His grandfather was involved in housing and his father was an architect so David felt that design was ‘in his genes’. This started David on a path of extraordinary achievement in design and he soon became a titan in the industry.

His work caught the eye of chef Pierre Koffmann who hired him to refurbish his restaurant La Tante Claire in Chelsea, London. Collins set up the David Collins Studio in 1985 and more high profile jobs quickly followed.

David has created the interiors for Claridge’s Bar, The Connaught’s bar, The Wolseley and many other London institutions.

David also attracted the attention of major retailers who wanted him to add his own spin to their stores. These included Bergdorf Goodman, Harrods, Jimmy Choo and Alexander McQueen. His touch can certainly be felt throughout the city.

The fashion world has been remembering him over the past week. Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman shared how his influence stretched even further than architecture:

‘As well as being responsible for designing many of the most influential London restaurants and bars of our age, he was a dear friend of many at Vogue. His work merged luxury, glamour and heritage in an inimitable fashion and his company was always of the first and most enjoyable order’

The Gilbert Scott Restaurant at The St Pancras Renaissance Hotel

He was an expert at marrying history and modernity, displayed superbly in his work at The Gilbert Scott restaurant in the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel. Speaking about the project he said:

‘Our design is a subtle intervention. Heritage buildings need to be considered carefully: the furniture, the palette, the artwork – the restaurant needs to be contemporary and acknowledge the significance of its surroundings’

Many stars flocked to his funeral this week, including Madonna who delivered a ‘beautiful speech’ during the service.

His legacy is a monument to design and comfort. For generations people will enjoy his work, perhaps in subtle ways when they appreciate the surroundings they have found themselves in, but he is still making an impression all the same.

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!

Travel Retail’s Wild Geese: Colm McLoughlin

Posted on March 1, 2013 by aaron

Here’s our latest column from The Moodie Report where Dubai Duty Free Executive Chairman Colm McLoughlin answers our questions. Thank you for taking part!

Click here to read issue 70 of The Moodie Report.

Remember The Wild Geese This St Patrick’s Day

Posted on February 27, 2013 by aaron

The St Patrick’s Day celebrations have always been important to Wild geese found throughout the world.

Traditionally, it was a special feast in Ireland, a day for prayer and remembrance. But over time, as many Wild Geese travelled to all corners of the world, St Patrick’s Day became a time for those abroad to connect with their countrymen and remember Ireland: a celebration of the bonds of solidarity.

Solidarity bound The Wild Geese together in 1691. United under their beautiful dream of freedom for everyone, they chose to leave Ireland, thinking they had secured liberty for their country. As they boarded ships bound for France they took the name The Wild Geese in the hope and belief that this would be a temporary strategic exile.

Today St Patrick’s Day incorporates everyone. Its a day that the world can stand together and celebrate the important bonds of the courageous. On this day everyone is a little bit Irish.

So this St Patrick’s Day we’re celebrating those bonds of solidarity and have loads of exciting events coming up in the UK. Join us on Facebook to keep up to date with our events.

Your St Patrick’s Day celebrations start here. Join us in remembering The Wild Geese.

Wherever you are in the world, if you are of Irish descent you are part of this story and entitled to call yourself Wild Geese.

Men of Action: Daniel Day-Lewis Makes Oscar History With Third Best Actor Win

Posted on February 25, 2013 by aaron

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.

Tag Archives: Irish Talent