Description
In 1803 many thousands of Irishmen joined La Légion Irlandaise of Napoleon’s Grande Armée, which was later presented with the coveted Golden Eagle for valour. This shirt designed by Cremona Heritage, has been crafted in the authentic colours and emblems of those heroic Legionnaires. Their dream of leading a French army of liberation back to Ireland, failed to materialise after Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo.
Earlier in 1702 the Brigade Irlandaise of the French Army, famously defeated the Austrian army at the battle of Cremona in Northern Italy. Later, an officer of La Légion Irlandaise returned to Ireland and renamed the entire townland and his house at Foxhall in the Swords area of County Dublin to ‘Cremona’. The original 18th century house and gate lodge at Cremona survive intact to this day, evolving as a living history and research venue dedicated to overseas Irish militia heritage.
The Cremona commemorative shirt collection pays homage to the many Irish legions and militias formed across the globe, from the Tercio Irlandés of Spain of 1587 to the Irish Transvaal Brigade of South Africa 1899. Editions currently available: 1. La Légion Irlandaise; 2. La Brigade Irlandaise; 3. Irish Militia Heritage; 4. Montgomery Guard of Boston; 5. La Légion Irlandesa de Simon Bolivar; 6. La Armada Invencible; 7. Flight of the Wild Geese; 8. The Sarsfield Grenadier Guard of California; 9. La Légion de Patricios de Buenos Aires; 10. El Batallón de San Patricio, Mexico.
