The Kilt's use in Irish Nationalism

[Blackrose87]

I would never speak for anyone else, but in answer to the OP's initial question--I can say that this upcoming Sunday provides my answer.

This Sunday here in Detroit--more specifically, the Detroit neighbohood known as "Corktown" we will have our 54th Annual St. Patrick's Parade. The sponsors are a committe of many different Irish and dare I say "Celtic" and "Gaelic" associations.

There will be--as is the norm, kilts. There will be saffron kilts and tartan kilts. Many wearers of which will be martching and playing in Police Bands, Pipe Bands, Irish, 'Celtic' and 'Gaelic' organizations, as well as others attending the parade.

The city will take great pride in celebrating the contributions and sacrifices that the sons and daughters of Ireland have given to our city.

There will be blantant Irish Nationalist pride. The aid committees for northern Ireland will be there. There will be many kilts.

So at least in my little corner of the world, kilts are being worn as a symbol of Irish Nationalism, no matter who believes it is proper or not.

I think that there's definite evidence of the Irish diaspora taking up the kilt as a symbol. But in the original question I was more wondering about the attempt to adopt it as a symbol and national dress in Ireland, and why this basically gained no support.
I'm in no position to explain why the diaspora wear the kilt, but I'm guessing after generations and generations of being displaced from the original culture, traditions are lost, new ones are created and ones may be borrowed from other cultures.