For the last several years I've had a great surge of interest in everything Celtic, driving my family nuts gushing about how hard it is to learn, but how much fun it is trying. Although after about five years I still can't do more than say my name and a few words. Whenever I get discouraged at my nonexistent progress, all I have to do is fling on my Chivalry Sports 'Irish Dress' and pick up one of their catalogs and envision myself in any number of the incredible items they offer. It reminds me I intend on stepping back in time at some point , knowing some of the local language when I get there. Then I sit down again with a new frame of mind to continue studying the books. (I've recently learned that there are actually six Celtic languages and that there is a difference between Gaelic and Irish. I'm still not sure exactly what that difference is, but I'm working on it...)
Several months ago I got the brainy idea that if my sorry budget wouldn't allow me to live the fantasy for myself, than I could put my secondary talents to some use and live them through my Barbies (another hopeless passion). A friend of mine runs the costume shop for a local playhouse. She provides me with material in exchange for light repair work. After seeing Chivalry Sports, 'Verona' I was inspired to make my first attempt at a scaled-down dress.
To make a long story short, I obviously came up with something that worked and wanted to show you how much I really enjoy what you do for those hopeless, eolithic romantics like myself.
Mile taing agus fortan leat! (Did I say that right...?)
Summer Stephenson
Oak Ridge, TN
Here ye, here ye, here ye!!! I love thy medieval magazine!!! In modern terms, I think your magazine is a great and wonderful thing!!!! I listen to a lot of metal music from Norway and Sweden. In their music is a lot of Viking history. Especially the band from Norway called "Enslaved". I thought the Battle of Lindisfarne, 793, was just some fictitious fantasy. But oh no, that marked the beginning of the Viking age. I also learned in your magazine about Erik the Red and his son Leif Erikson to further my knowledge about the Vikings and that this year marks the 1000th anniversary for the discovery of the New World. I am going to make my best effort to try and attend some of the Viking festivities in Newfoundland this year. Knowing me I'll probably end up spending too much money on swords, leather and clothing. But what the hay? You only live once, right? Anyway, I just wanted to say what a great magazine you have and look forward to receiving a new copy!
"Eran vinkig fa nord!!!!"
Langston Williams
Your description of the making of "The 13th Warrior" is very good. I appreciate the film even more!
TheSilverPaladin
I was wondering if you could answer a question for me about the Thirteenth Warrior? I'm curious as to what kind of dog that was in the movie. I have never seen a dog such as that and would like to find out more about it.
Mike Hector
Fontana, CA
Dear Ms. Cameron,
I had read your article in the October 99 issue of Chivalry Sports Renaissance Magazine, "Hounds of Muckle Speed." I have kept the issue because my husband and I love these dogs. The notes said that you also breed Irish Wolfhounds, and I hope that you might have a few moments to correspond with me regarding these beautiful animals.
I have had a love of wolfhounds for a number of years, and introduced them to my husband, who immediately fell as hard as I had--although I have never been fortunate enough to own one---or be owned by one is more likely. What prompted me to write to you was a movie we just finished watching on video, "The 13th Warrior," the subject of another recent Chivalry Sports article. In the movie, the Viking Chieftain has a dog that, as I live and breath, must be a wolfhound, yet the dog is red... like a golden retriever, but more so. Red like Erik the Red or Miss Clairol number 9! I have seen them in black and brindle (always a sort of ashen blond) in books, and the more common gray at the Irish Festival in Milwaukee, but never red.
At any rate, I wonder, is this a natural color for such an animal, or is it more likely that they dyed the dog? I just can't put into words how taken we were with the creature.
Sincerely,
Susan Anderson
The great red beast has certainly drawn a lot of attention. Buliwyf's dog is most definitely an Irish Wolfhound. He wasn't groomed quite the same as today's standard, nor is the color accurate. He was dyed. If you look closely you can see the true color at the base of his coat in one of the scenes where it's raining and then again as he flashes by on the screen, I noticed brindling showing through on his hindquarters. More than likely his coat is actually a wheaton and brindle.
Just to set the record straight. Wolfhounds do come in red, however it is more of a 'strawberry blonde' than the 'Eric the Red' version in "The Thirteenth Warrior." Irish Wolfhounds' coats also naturally occur in wheaten (a blonde), cream, silver, black, grey and brindles of the same colors.
