Interesting email from an Irish fellow about Irish kilts.

**Captain Karrot** · 20th August 08, 11:44 AM

Originally Posted by Mr. Kilt

Wow, odd that this thread has popped back up and has generated so much new interest.
On the plus side...I haven't heard back from the fellow in question.

I agree...I can also say that it is a very enlightening post, and in particular I want to thank slohairt for his contributions - very knowledgable.

**Robertson** · 25th August 08, 03:45 AM

Just like the tee shirt " I'm Scot-Irish I get drunk and fight with me-self "

**Carolina Kiltman** · 25th August 08, 08:47 AM

Originally Posted by Robertson

Just like the tee shirt " I'm Scot-Irish I get drunk and fight with me-self "

Gee, maybe I should get one of those

**Mr. Kilt** · 15th September 08, 08:35 PM

Originally Posted by Robertson

Just like the tee shirt " I'm Scot-Irish I get drunk and fight with me-self "

The comedian Johnny "Bagpipes" Johnston has a line similar to that. He says he's half Irish and half Scottish. He loves to get drunk, but he hates paying for it.

**Morgan of Seattle** · 16th September 08, 01:57 PM

An Englishman, an Irishman, and a Scotsman walk into a bar, and each orders a drink. By great coincidence, three houseflies come buzzing along and one lands in each man's drink.

The Englishman says, "Waiter, there is a fly in my gin, I shall require another."

The Irishman discreetly pulls out the fly, tosses it over his shoulder, and finishes his Irish Whiskey.

The Scotsman carefully grasps the fly by its wings and, shaking the insect over his scotch, he shouts, "Spit it out, you little bugger, spit it out!"

**macdoc451** · 18th September 08, 11:50 AM

Looks as though he's been in the U.S. a little too long..... after all, this IS the country of free speach, and EVREYONE'S entitled to voice his opinion!!

GG · 22nd September 08, 10:38 AM

Alan, your Irish "friend" wrote:

If you like wearing a kilt for the sake of wearing one, (I imagine this is the case)... Fair enough.

If that is what he believes, I wonder why he in the first place bothers to send you an email unless he himself has some interest in kilt wearing.
In my case, at least, he is absolutely right. I have neither Scottish nor Irish roots and I couldn’t care less whether men have been wearing kilts in Ireland or not. The fact that the kilt in Scotland is mostly formal wear does not bother me either.
I wear a kilt because I like to. I wear it because of the comfort and variety to my wardrobe and because it is different in what I shall call a good way.
When I buy a kilt in a certain tartan, it is because I like the colors, and Alan, I think your Irish National looks good. I might buy one myself some day.

People don’t laugh, really, seeing a man in a kilt. Your young “friend” must live on another planet. Not even in a country like mine where kilts are very very rare (Scotsmen and Irishmen drove west, not east) they will. When people address me they very seldom take me for a Scotsman. To them I’m just a Dane wearing a kilt. The way it is.
By the way I have German roots on both sides – some 120 years ago. Accordingly I could wear “Lederhosen”. I couldn’t even think of doing it.

Greg

www.dress2kilt.eu

**cessna152towser** · 23rd September 08, 09:55 AM

As we where walking around Dublin and seeing the sights i was getting the most peculiar looks. For the most part they were rather heated looks.

I can't say I have ever experienced any animosity to the kilt while wearing it in Ireland, whether in Ulster or Eire, but it does draw more attention and starts more conversations than it does in Scotland where kilts are much more common.
Wearing my County Armagh tartan in County Armagh I have several times been asked what's the tartan, but yet to meet someone who recognised it as their own county tartan.

**irishcoloradoan** · 23rd September 08, 10:15 AM

This is a very interesting thread, and I'm interested to hear from those discussing the history of Irish/Scottish names. What about clan tartans like the Clarke which (to my eye) appear to be somewhat English names that are Irish-ized? My grandmother (who's mom was from NI) was insistent that even though our name was English we were Irish. She made a mean Ulster Fry too!

**macwilkin** · 23rd September 08, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by irishcoloradoan

This is a very interesting thread, and I'm interested to hear from those discussing the history of Irish/Scottish names. What about clan tartans like the Clarke which (to my eye) appear to be somewhat English names that are Irish-ized? My grandmother (who's mom was from NI) was insistent that even though our name was English we were Irish. She made a mean Ulster Fry too!

A number of "Irish" family names are actually "Old English"; i.e. settlers in Ireland who came over after the Norman invasion. Over time, the "Old English" and Normans were assimilated into the larger Irish society.

T.