Irish Saffron Kilt

[michael steinrok]

What The Heck Is With Those Saffron Kilts? How Did That Come About? Any Historical Facts About Them?

[Big Dave]

It's said that's what the Irish wore. That's about all I know!?

[emeraldfalconoflight]

From what I understand they came about for two reasons, One because saffron was the color that the nobles or upper class wore, and two because of the way the leine shirt/tunic was.

Any other takers on this one?

[macwilkin]

The saffron kilt originates in the 19th century in the Irish regiments of the British Army, who adopted the uniform of the pipers and drummers of the Highland regiments. Unlike the Scots, only musicians (and some officers) wore the saffron kilt as part of their uniform. The Royal Irish Regiment's pipers still wear them, as well as the Pipe Band of the Irish Republic's Air Corps.

Several of the Irish revolutionaries of 1916 also adopted the kilt (in saffron and green colours). Patrick Pearce, one of the leaders of the Easter Rebellion, even adopted the kilt as a uniform for his school for boys, St. Enda's, which was supposed to educate Irish boys on "traditional" Irish culture. From what I have read, the boys took quite a few beatings from local boys over their kilts. Eamonn Ceannt, another leader in the '16, reportedly played the uilleann pipes for the Pope dressed in a green kilt. Another Irishman, Pierce O'Mahony, wore a green kilt & is pictured in "ancient" Irish dress, complete with wolfhound. O'Mahony lived in Bulgaria and is quite the national hero there -- a tartan was recently introduced in his honour.

Cheers,

Todd

[michael steinrok]

The saffron kilt originates in the 19th century in the Irish regiments of the British Army, who adopted the uniform of the pipers and drummers of the Highland regiments. Unlike the Scots, only musicians (and some officers) wore the saffron kilt as part of their uniform. The Royal Irish Regiment's pipers still wear them, as well as the Pipe Band of the Irish Republic's Air Corps.

Several of the Irish revolutionaries of 1916 also adopted the kilt (in saffron and green colours). Patrick Pearce, one of the leaders of the Easter Rebellion, even adopted the kilt as a uniform for his school for boys, St. Enda's, which was supposed to educate Irish boys on "traditional" Irish culture. From what I have read, the boys took quite a few beatings from local boys over their kilts. Eamonn Ceannt, another leader in the '16, reportedly played the uilleann pipes for the Pope dressed in a green kilt. Another Irishman, Pierce O'Mahony, wore a green kilt & is pictured in "ancient" Irish dress, complete with wolfhound. O'Mahony lived in Bulgaria and is quite the national hero there -- a tartan was recently introduced in his honour.

Cheers,

Todd

ANY IDEAS ABOUT THE TARTAN ? I'VE GOT MAHONEY BLOOD :smile:

[macwilkin]

ANY IDEAS ABOUT THE TARTAN ? I'VE GOT MAHONEY BLOOD :smile:

Irish tartans are a modern innovation; check out this article on Matt Newsome's blog:

http://blog.albanach.org/2005/11/iri...artans-in.html

If you can trace your Irish ancestors to a particular area in Ireland, you could always wear one of the county tartans -- and there are also "general" tartans like the St. Patrick's, the Irish National, Ulster, etc.

Cheers,

Todd

[michael steinrok]

Irish tartans are a modern innovation; check out this article on Matt Newsome's blog:

http://blog.albanach.org/2005/11/iri...artans-in.html

If you can trace your Irish ancestors to a particular area in Ireland, you could always wear one of the county tartans -- and there are also "general" tartans like the St. Patrick's, the Irish National, Ulster, etc.

Cheers,

Todd

Most all tartans are a modern invention. It all goes back to one english queens birthday party and a rush to recreate the once outlawed tartans.
It's a great story and I like to add that the irish were there too. We were serving :-P

Slainte ;-)

[macwilkin]

Most all tartans are a modern invention. It all goes back to one english queens birthday party and a rush to recreate the once outlawed tartans.
It's a great story and I like to add that the irish were there too. We were serving

Well...no. The Irish county tartans line from the House of Edgar (a Scottish mill, btw) were designed in 1996. The crux of Matt's article was that most "Irish" tartans were actually designed by Scottish firms! ;), although there are tartans being designed for Irish clans and families.

I think you're referring to Queen Victoria, who was known for her love of Scotland and all things tartan. Whilst Victoria is responsible for a lot of the tartan craze, she cannot claim the credit for the "recreation" of tartans for a birthday party (I'm not sure where that one is coming from).

However, you might also be thinking of the state visit to Scotland by King George IV in 1822, which spawned a major interest in Scotland and a very romanticised view of the Highlanders, with Sir Walter Scott leading the charge. Clan Chiefs and others rushed to by Highland "kit" in their "clan tartan" supplied by the tartan firms for the King's visit.

The tartan industry, as noted below in the articles, really takes off at the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th, naming tartans for clans & families, districts, towns, etc. -- tartan was around before this, though. It was worn at Culloden in 1746, and by the soldiers of the Black Watch, which was organised to police the Highlands in 1723. There are many examples.

And there are "old" tartans -- for example, what we know as the Ulster tartan, which was found in a peat bog in the 1950's:

http://www.ulsterscotsagency.com/tartanandkilts.asp

In addition, you might wish to read some articles on Matt's web site:

http://www.albanach.org/oldtartans.html

http://www.albanach.org/sources.htm

http://www.albanach.org/kilt.html

And, the Scottish Tartans Authorities' web site is worth perusing as well:

http://www.tartansauthority.com/Web/Site/home/home.asp

I guess it just depends on how you classify time; for Americans, the 18th century is "history", for the Scots, Irish, etc. that's "current events", given their much longer history! ;)

Cheers,

Todd

[g koch]

Don't forget the Irish Regiment of Canada!

http://www.regiments.org/tradition/tartans/ca-irish.htm

[Mike S]

And certainly don't forget the Irish Guards:
http://www.drumsandpipes.co.uk/