Balmoral bonnet and feathers...

[creagdhubh]

Indeed, but as others have indicated, there are as many opinions as people wearing the kilt. I know that it is important for people wearing any form of dress to be confident that they are wearing it "correctly". Particularly if it is a form of dress to which they are really not familiar. As long as they are not wearing it with the pleats to the front, however, everything else is a matter of taste. Which reminds me of a limerick
"And they argued all night
About who had the right
To do what, and with which, and to whom"

I won't expand upon it as it is not in the best possible taste (in common with most limericks) but suffice it to say that what I think is how the kilt should be worn is not the same as my sons or their contemporaries think. What I see as poor taste, they revel in and what I regard as traditional, they reject as is the way between generations, and probably always has been.
Getting back to the original subject of Balmoral bonnets and the pros and cons of wearing feathers, I regard anyone with a bunch of feathers in his Balmoral as a bit of a poser, an attention-seeking individual who deserves a condescending smile - no more. I would defend his right to do so to my last breath, however.

Phil,

Does the concluding bit of your statement include Chiefs and Chieftains of Highland Clans? Just curious, as I am quite sure my chief, Sir William Alan Macpherson of Cluny and Blairgowire, TD, Baron of Blair (below center), and chieftains, Euan Macpherson of Glentruim (below left), and Alastair Macpherson of Pitmain, are not deserving of a "condescending smile," and most certainly are not "posers."

[Thomas H]

I agree in Freedom-Thats why we do what we do. I understand some people want us all to at lest try to do it right but, for years I wondered around Highland games with out a Clan. i am from Norway on my Dads side and I
Knew on my Mothers side was Ferguson . But i was to afraid to ask anyone if
I could join them . Because I thought it had to come from my Dads side.
So I bought my wife and I Freedom Polyviscose kilts to Represent our freedom
from the world ( Being a saved Christian ) I love freedom, But respect Honor
too.

[slohairt]

Besides pipe bands, hackles are also worn by Highland, Scottish, and Irish regiments in the UK, Canada, and other Commonwealth armies.

Probably the most famous example is the red hackle worn by The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland and The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada.

[Gael Ridire]

This has been an interesting thread, and especially enjoy the comments about the structure of the Macphersons.

To Jock Scot - great photo!

To all - I'd be interested in putting this book together of Gaelic/Celtic culture in the "suggested" do & don't of wearing national dress. My only thought is to make it a PDF and downloadable from this site, free to all.

State your thoughts on this please and either post or email me. Those who would like to do a specific topic could write this and submit. Include photos & graphics for your article. Let this be a community endevour.

What say ye?

[creagdhubh]

"This has been an interesting thread, and especially enjoy the comments about the structure of the Macphersons."

Cheers on that!

[Gael Ridire]

I really am impressed! Several of the Chiefs want only to be left alone, and others don't care. Here I have one of the few Irish clans that have a bonafide chief (we've met twice) who has no understanding of his history. He only cares what he can make money wise. After ten years of nothing from his clan society he was shutting it down but a clansman talked him out of it. So for the last two years a new board has been created, but it is a slow go. I'm probably the only one who wants to combine the old with the present to have in the future.

[creagdhubh]

Sir James Forbes of Newe, Bart, Patron of the Lonach Highland & Friendly Society. Note Sir James' tall feathers and equally tall sprig of broom - plant badge of Clan Forbes. The famous Lonach Gathering is always the 4th weekend in August.