The MacKessog Tartan – The Tartan of Luss Parish Church

The MacKessog tartan was designed in 2006 to commemorate the saint who came to Loch Lomond-side in Ad 510 to bring Christianity to the people of Argyll.

MacKessog (the Gaelic form of ‘Saint’ Kessog) founded a monastery on the island of Inch Tavannach and a church in Luss nearly 1,500 years ago. In his memory we have created a tartan, designed by Redshank of Inveraray and hand-woven on the Isle of Islay, which is exclusive to the Church and Pilgrimage Centre of Luss.

The tartan is based on the Bruce sett – the veneration of Kessog by King Robert the Bruce, who led his soldiers into the battle of Bannockburn in the name of “the blessed Kessog”, established Luss as a major pilgrimage site during the Middle Ages. The colours are : two shades of green for the hills, blue for the loch, a white stripe to create the Scottish saltire, a purple stripe for the heather and for Kessog’s ecclesiastical significance, and a red stripe for his martyrdom – the saint was murdered in AD 520 at Bandry, a small village just south of Luss. The overall tone of the tartan is beautifully muted and appropriate for a tartan in memory of a fifteen-hundred year old saint. It is appropriate both for formal wear, such as at a wedding, and for day wear with a jersey or informal jacket.

All pilgrims visiting Luss and those who choose to be married here are entitled to wear the MacKessog tartan as their own.

Shortly after the MacKessog tartan was designed an old, historic loom which used to be housed in the Weaver’s Cottage at Tarbet was brought to Luss and on it our own tartan is now woven on the premises. In addition to our traditional MacKessog, two additional tartans have now been produced: the Dress MacKessog which replaces some of the greens with white (and which is particularly appropriate for weddings) and a Hunting MacKessog which replaces those same greens with brown.

Kilts and all of the additional items of Scottish costume are available from the Pilgrimage Centre and many people who have been married here or who have come to spend time with us return for a kilt to be a permanent and appropriate reminder of their association with this beautiful place.