Irish Brath (Sash/fly plaid)

[Dan R Porter]

So my question is, to be sensitive to the men who have sweated over the pipes fors years to learn a beutiful instrument, is the Irish Brath for bagpipers only? Or can it be worn as formal wear for an irish wedding? Thanks to anyone who can answer me.

[george7]

Scotsmen who don't play pipes wear fly plaids. I don't see why you couldn't wear one to match an Irish outfit.

[beloitpiper]

Fly plaids are for pipers and very formal occasions. In my opinion, unless you're the groom in a wedding, pass on the plaid.

[Dan R Porter]

Fly plaids are for pipers and very formal occasions. In my opinion, unless you're the groom in a wedding, pass on the plaid.

Well I was asking for my wedding. Should have given more info, my appy polly loggy's.


Edit: actually I should have said, its my wife's [coughexpensivecough]wedding, I am just the groom in it.

[PiobBear]

Generally speaking, nobody in Ireland wears kilts except pipers. That being said, kilts etc. aren't proprietary to pipers; if you wish to wear a kilt in a solid color or Irish tartan, you can certainly wear the brath. It's symbolic of the mantle once worn with the leine; the ancient ethnic garb of the Irish, and would be much more "correct" with an Irish kilt than wearing it as a fly plaid. I wear one pretty much every time I wear saffron, including black tie.

If you've a fly plaid, fold it four times lengthwise, lay it flat over your shoulder, and pin it to your left breast; somewhat lower than you would a fly plaid. Traditionally braths are pinned with a Tara-style pennanular brooch, rather than a Scottish-style plaid brooch.

As a piper I frequently see folks wearing fly plaids that aren't pipers, I wouldn't view the wearing of a brath any differently, although I would immediately recognize it as Irish.

I would strongly advise against calling it a "sash". In Ireland the wearing of sashes has political implications and social consequences that you might not care for.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I would strongly advise against calling it a "sash". In Ireland the wearing of sashes has political implications and social consequences that you might not care for.

Perhaps this sort of coded sectarian comment-- referring as it does to Protestant Loyalists in Northern Ireland, a part of the United Kingdom-- could be avoided in the future?

[Jock Scot]

Steady there chaps, steady!

[triolamj]

Perhaps this sort of coded sectarian comment-- referring as it does to Protestant Loyalists in Northern Ireland, a part of the United Kingdom-- could be avoided in the future?

It's a statement of fact and being part-Irish I don't take offense. However, regarding the law of unintended consequences, "sashes" and "rosettes" are worn by ladies, and gentlemen wear "plaids", fly, mini-fly, or piper's, but not strictly a sash.

[macwilkin]

It's a statement of fact and being part-Irish I don't take offense. However, regarding the law of unintended consequences, "sashes" and "rosettes" are worn by ladies, and gentlemen wear "plaids", fly, mini-fly, or piper's, but not strictly a sash.

Gentlemen do wear rosettes though...I have one for the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS) that identifies me as a member. It is from Dexter Rosettes:

http://www.dexterrosettes.com/

This type of rosette is worn in the buttonhole of a suit.

Officers and NCO's of several Highland regiments also wear rosettes as kilt pins on the front apron of their kilt:

http://calgaryhighlanders.com/tradit.../kiltpanel.htm

Sashes are also worn by gentleman as fraternal regalia. The St. Andrew's Society of St. John, New Brunswick, for example, has sashes for their officers:

http://www.sassj.ca/artifacts.html (scroll down)

Sashes are also worn by Drum Majors and Officers of the Day to denote their position.

Regards,

Todd

[Dan R Porter]

Generally speaking, nobody in Ireland wears kilts except pipers. That being said, kilts etc. aren't proprietary to pipers; if you wish to wear a kilt in a solid color or Irish tartan, you can certainly wear the brath. It's symbolic of the mantle once worn with the leine; the ancient ethnic garb of the Irish, and would be much more "correct" with an Irish kilt than wearing it as a fly plaid. I wear one pretty much every time I wear saffron, including black tie.

If you've a fly plaid, fold it four times lengthwise, lay it flat over your shoulder, and pin it to your left breast; somewhat lower than you would a fly plaid. Traditionally braths are pinned with a Tara-style pennanular brooch, rather than a Scottish-style plaid brooch.

As a piper I frequently see folks wearing fly plaids that aren't pipers, I wouldn't view the wearing of a brath any differently, although I would immediately recognize it as Irish.

I would strongly advise against calling it a "sash". In Ireland the wearing of sashes has political implications and social consequences that you might not care for.

Piobear, looked at your pics and figured you are my best hope for answers and I appreciate your time.Does the brath have to be worn under a passant or can it be pinned and just layed over the shoulder?