Interesting email from an Irish fellow about Irish kilts.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

As for the kilt not being Irish national dress, it is true on the one hand that it has never been recognised by the Irish government.

This is absolutely true because the Irish Government-- in a rare moment of infinite wisdom-- twigged to the fact that the kilt isn't Irish. Just like they haven't "recognized" the ubiquitious baseball cap which is seen on street corners and on trams throughout the nation.

On the other hand, the main thrust for it's adoption as such was by the Gaelic League during it's early years, and that organisation was founded in 1893, some 19 years before there was any Irish government that could have considered the matter and rendered a decision one way or the other.

Ah yes. The Gaelic League. And let's not forget about Lady Gregory and the Celtic Dawn, either. These folks were in a distinct minority at the end of the 19th, beginning of the 20th century, and were generally regarded as cranks and crackpots by most of the Irish. Their espousing the wearing of the kilt had nothing to do with Irish history, and everything to do with wanting to look "Irish". Lacking any sort of distinctive native Irish dress, they borrowed the kilt from the Scots-- they could have as easily dressed in knee britches and buckle shoes-- and created the myth of "ancient celtic dress" right there on the spot.

As far as the Irish government "rendering a decision" on whether or not the kilt is "Irish"-- the Irish people are intelligent enough to not need government directives on what to wear or how to dress. I realize that government directives of this sort may be useful in some parts of the world to prevent people from wearing their underwear backwards, or some such, but in Ireland such is not the case.

They know, without need of an act of the Oireachtas, that the kilt isn't Irish.

[macwilkin]

Ah yes. The Gaelic League. And let's not forget about Lady Gregory and the Celtic Dawn, either. These folks were in a distinct minority at the end of the 19th, beginning of the 20th century, and were generally regarded as cranks and crackpots by most of the Irish. Their espousing the wearing of the kilt had nothing to do with Irish history, and everything to do with wanting to look "Irish". Lacking any sort of distinctive native Irish dress, they borrowed the kilt from the Scots-- they could have as easily dressed in knee britches and buckle shoes-- and created the myth of "ancient celtic dress" right there on the spot.

And let's not forget the Irish regiments of the British Army, that also began to adopt the saffron kilt as dress for pipers right around the time of the First World War.

Regards,

Todd

[Jon1975]

[The Thing]

This is absolutely true because the Irish Government-- in a rare moment of infinite wisdom-- twigged to the fact that the kilt isn't Irish. Just like they haven't "recognized" the ubiquitious baseball cap which is seen on street corners and on trams throughout the nation.Ah yes. The Gaelic League. And let's not forget about Lady Gregory and the Celtic Dawn, either. These folks were in a distinct minority at the end of the 19th, beginning of the 20th century, and were generally regarded as cranks and crackpots by most of the Irish. Their espousing the wearing of the kilt had nothing to do with Irish history, and everything to do with wanting to look "Irish". Lacking any sort of distinctive native Irish dress, they borrowed the kilt from the Scots-- they could have as easily dressed in knee britches and buckle shoes-- and created the myth of "ancient celtic dress" right there on the spot.

As far as the Irish government "rendering a decision" on whether or not the kilt is "Irish"-- the Irish people are intelligent enough to not need government directives on what to wear or how to dress. I realize that government directives of this sort may be useful in some parts of the world to prevent people from wearing their underwear backwards, or some such, but in Ireland such is not the case.

They know, without need of an act of the Oireachtas, that the kilt isn't Irish.

That's hardly a fair assesment, the Gaelic league had massive following in Ireland, it kick started the modern interest in the Irish language, music, dance, sport and the adoption of the modern kilt in replacement for the Leine and Brat, that were lost to time. If it wasn't for the Gaelic league there would be little to distinguish Modern day Ireland from Modern day England, so much of Ireland's historical traditions had been surpressed or forgotten.
The Irish Government never adopted any form of national dress for the nation of Ireland after independence. The kilt in Ireland has been worn for long enough to warrant it a special place in Irish culture, one which thankfully is starting to gain popularity again amongst the Irish people.

[Highland Logan]

That's hardly a fair assesment, the Gaelic league had massive following in Ireland, it kick started the modern interest in the Irish language, music, dance, sport and the adoption of the modern kilt in replacement for the Leine and Brat, that were lost to time. If it wasn't for the Gaelic league there would be little to distinguish Modern day Ireland from Modern day England, so much of Ireland's historical traditions had been surpressed or forgotten.
The Irish Government never adopted any form of national dress for the nation of Ireland after independence. The kilt in Ireland has been worn for long enough to warrant it a special place in Irish culture, one which thankfully is starting to gain popularity again amongst the Irish people.

Yes, thank goodness the Irish have been able to latch onto the Scottish National Dress in order to not look quite so English. If there was ever a reason to claim the dress of another not wanting to look English is a good reason.

"What tartan is that Sir?"
"Why it's the Irish National tartan."

"What tartan is that Sir?"
"Why it's the German National tartan."

So should the Germans also take a run at saying the kilt is theirs too? It may make them less frightening to the French.

If anyone wants to wear a kilt.. power to them. But all this backtracking and re-inventing history to say their country also wore kilts is a tad crazy.

Frank

[thanmuwa]

The Saffron is always a good choice for an Irishman, plastic or otherwise.

You can get plastic saffron now? The wonders of modern life eh?

[Colonel MacNeal]

You can get plastic saffron now? The wonders of modern life eh?

The Poly in polyviscose is plastic. Acrylic is also plastic.

[Ealisaid]

Aw, what a killjoy. I'm pretty sure that kilts have been worn by Scots for most of their history, and probably haven't been much worn in Ireland-- but so what?? If someone likes one of the new Irish tartans and gets himself a kilt in it, that is all to the good! The tartan designers and kiltmakers get business, there are new nice tartans to look at and enjoy, and more folks are wearing kilts What's not to like about that scenario?

(And pssst-- a slew of Irish came to Alba a loooong time ago and settled there. It's nice to get on with your relations, however distant they may be.)

[ChubRock]

int:

[Galician]

Hmmm, I've seen this thought pop up in some of the threads where Celtic identity has been discussed (fought over? ) I think that calling trade the spread of culture is like calling Eastern Europeans Americans, because they play rock, and wear tees and flipflops.