Refer back to www.nypdpipesanddrums.com. Unless the back of their mini-fly plaids are flared out across their back, it's not a brat regardless of what they're called. Ancient brats were full blown cloaks, not capes and not plaids. They were trimmed in fur and/or feathers and woven in a wide variety of colors and patterns. The brat was pinned with a brooch over just one shoulder in order to leave the sword arm free. The Royal Irish Ranger in the Photo Gallery is wearing a traditional brat. Where the tradition of the mini-fly as a substitute for a brat got started I don't know but it's not the first time that a new tradition crept in under the tent, especially when it comes to the Irish and the kilt. A duck is a duck is a duck.
Can you provide any documentation that the Irish Defence Forces brat isn't really a brat at all, other than the lack of fur and feathers? Or how the English-style brat worn by pipers of the RIR and NYES is the one true authentic one?

I've posted a photo of a piper in the Royal Irish Rangers wearing the brat (pronounce brot):
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/photopl....php?n=444&w=o
The Royal Irish Ranger in the photo (Pipe Major Tommy Jackson, 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rangers) is wearing a cloak. This is a photo of Ranger pipers wearing brats; green with a red lining, pinned by the corner at the shoulder British-style; like a fly plaid.