Irish Kilt?

[MacSpadger]

Here is the still from The Quiet Man with John Wayne's sons wearing kilts:

Wow, that scene looks so un-Irish it boggles the mind.

[bikercelt1]

We all know that the Kilt is not Irish, but culturally unaware people don't. There are more people that ask if I'm Irish than ask if I'm Scottish ( I always respond that I'm American but my ancestors were Irish and Scottish). I sometimes point out that if I was dressed in "Irish clothes" people probably wouldn't even recognise that I was dressed in ethnic clothing.

Jamie

[McElmurry]

Black Raven Pipe Band 1914
Cork Examiner



The Black Raven Pipe Band 2010

[Riverkilt]

I have Irish blood through all four of my grandparents.



So, kilts work for me as a way to honor that Irish blood.



A fine leather kilt would have worked well for the chill and foul weather back in County Louth.

[RockyR]

Anyone else notice the pleats are in the front (or perhaps all the way around... I can't tell b/c we can't see the back of anyone)?

Black Raven Pipe Band 1914
Cork Examiner

[Tobus]

Good eye, Rocky! I looked at that photo for several minutes, but didn't realize that they were pleated in front. I did notice, though, the lack of sporrans, which seems to be prevalent with the Irish kilt-wearing style of that era.

[kiltbook]

I did notice, though, the lack of sporrans, which seems to be prevalent with the Irish kilt-wearing style of that era.

Great eye, Tobus, I was taught that wearing a sporran defiles Irish cloth, and that the cloth represents one's Irish blood and ancestry. Saffron and green being Irish cloth. However, after spending time online and on this forum I now know that this is an archaic view. I have purchased a black leather sporran on a silver chain strap, but the things we are taught when we are young are often difficult to part with when we are old. I have worn the sporran with my solid black kilt, but I have NEVER worn it with my solid green kilt for fear that I may defile the cloth.

The prohibition does not apply to Irish tartan kilts, like Irish National, etc., because they are not true Irish cloth.

I know all of this seems stupid to some. Maybe one day I will have enough courage to wear the sporran with any cloth like other kilties.

[McElmurry]

I also dont understand the point of this post here. There is nothing wrong with learning about the origins of a piece of traditional clothing. I dont ask to know these things so that I can answer future questions from people since I dont ever expect to have those questions asked. I simply enjoy learning about POV from long ago and the history of the garment that I plan to be wearing.

I also dont consider myself a geographically challenged American. ;) Maybe some are, but it's certainly not a nice label to put on the entire group.

Finally, squabbling among ourselves is not going to educate the legendary geographically challenged “Americans”.

The geographically challenged citizens of the USA include those folks who ask a kiltie if he is Irish and cause him to beat his head against the wall. In the above statement ourselves refers to Xmarkers, which would include you, and the legendary geographically challenged does not include all citizens of the USA, just the folks who are actually geographically challenged.

The fact that the kilt gets conflated with Irishness is unfortunate from a historical perspective but I suspect the Irish and Irish diaspora are now the second largest group of kilt wearers so I don’t see the confusion abating anytime soon.

This statement is informing kilties who are asked about being Irish they should wear a helmet because association of the kilt to Irishness is not likely to die down anytime soon and more brick walls are in their future. If I had a chance to write the statement again I would change historical to Scottish.

We should be helping all who come to this site identify a tartan they can relate to and enjoy wearing be they German, Muslim, Peruvian, Firefighters, Clergy, or Marines. The list goes on and on and yes the list does include the Irish and Irish diaspora.

Xmarks is a friendly place and folks of all nations and walks of life get help with tartan selection. It is only the Irish that are reminded every so often the kilt is the national dress of Scotland and not Ireland. When one side in a discussion holds the high ground and routinely gets the last word it can become annoying regardless of who is right.

[Chas]

I have worn the sporran with my solid black kilt, but I have NEVER worn it with my solid green kilt for fear that I may defile the cloth.
The prohibition does not apply to Irish tartan kilts, like Irish National, etc., because they are not true Irish cloth.
I know all of this seems stupid to some. Maybe one day I will have enough courage to wear the sporran with any cloth like other kilties.

"Defile the cloth"

You are joking, aren't you?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flatulence

Regards

Chas

[auld argonian]

Appreciated Kiltbook's post about the place of the kilt in Irish Dancing. I will take you back to the 1960's when I was in grammar school in a predominantly Irish-American neighborhood and several of my classmates participated in Irish Dancing. The boys did wear solid color (dark blue, I think) kilts and, kids in Chicago being what they are/were, got a lot of sh*t about it...just so those of you who get sh*t about showing up in a kilt don't think that it's a recent invention. I figured that it was part of the uniform and that it was odd that it wasn't tartan but whatever...

The girl's outfits were very nice and NOT these neon-day-glo shock troop things that they wear today...nor were there the springy, curly unnaturally red wigs that seem to be standard issue today. Actually, the old outfits were lovely green and white and blue with simple celtic patterns embroidered on them and the girls wore dark tights instead of the white socks...hair just held back by a band...very simple and classy and nice.

So now you see what happens when you live in the Post-Riverdance-Irish-Step-Dancing-Zombie-Apocalypse!

Best

AA