Panache Answers the "Big Kilt Questions"

[seanachie]

I'm BY NO MEANS passing judgement on North Americans wearing Irish tartans. I have a few myself. I am just pondering aloud.

Funny thing you said that, and again the diversity of opinion....I do not own an Irish tartan specifically because they are not recognized by any legal Irish entity that I have discovered. (nor were they even designed in Ireland) I actually emailed the Irish culture minister about this but unfortunately this was right around the time of the last government stepping down. (PS sorry if you thought I had any concerns with your comments, not at all)

[Mike_Oettle]

Firstly, congratulations to Jamie on a concise yet sufficiently comprehensive list of answers to the typical questions.
Secondly, the Irish kilt thing barely raises its head in South Africa. Perhaps that is because (as far as I know) the only Irish band in this country that wears kilts is that of the South African Irish regiment.
The picture of the Irish band with KFOR is a most interesting one – especially since it shows the caubeens pretty well – but in my country, at any rate, the “Are you Irish” question rarely if ever arises.
And (even if Hermann feels this debate is flogging a dead horse) let it be said again that the kilt is a Scottish invention.
The philabeg was invented in Scotland and did not spread to other Celtic lands until the late 19th century. (And I have little or no information regarding Ulster Scots use – those better informed could chime in on this.)
Its predecessor, the feile mor, is only known to have existed in tartan within Scotland, although both this garment and the philabeg have also long been known in plain material.
Nonetheless the feile mor (in non-tartan material) is derived from much older Celtic styles of dress that once were worn in both Ireland and Wales.
Personally I like the idea of its being worn (in appropriate monotones or tartans) by Irishmen, Welshmen, Cornishmen, Bretons and any other Celts who might wish to get in on the act.
And women are welcome to wear similar garments (or masculine kilts) if they so choose.
Regards,
Mike

[spglenn]

Funny thing you said that, and again the diversity of opinion....I do not own an Irish tartan specifically because they are not recognized by any legal Irish entity that I have discovered. (nor were they even designed in Ireland) I actually emailed the Irish culture minister about this but unfortunately this was right around the time of the last government stepping down. (PS sorry if you thought I had any concerns with your comments, not at all)

I have no problem wearing my Irish Tartan here in Ireland...in fact most of the time people go "Oh!! How many are there?" So I reply there are 64 as there are two designs for every county, then there are all manner of Family, Provincial and other tartans. They may not be traditional and historic but as you can see they can look look and have a meaning to the wearer.