Kilts in Ireland.

[Jock Scot]

I ask these questions, out of pure interest and for no other reason.

How many kiltmakers are on the Emerald Isle? Are there any? Are there any Irish(North and South) cloth mills weaving tartans? Where do the natives of Ireland get their kilts made, should they want one? Are kilts available over there for hire and if so what tartans are available? Where is the safron cloth used for kilts woven?

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Jock,

I have seen a few kilt makers (individuals, not firms) in Ireland advertising on line. But I believe all the cloth for their kilts, including the saffron, was produced at Scottish mills.

[Blackrose87]

The only kilt maker I know of is Hare's in Belfast.

There are a number of highland wear shops around the north, particularly in Antrim, but as far as I'm aware the majority of customers would be in pipe bands.

[Paul Henry]

There are a couple of makers in Belfast , Richard Hare and essey musical, and the Saffron could easily come from Marton Mills - it's an excellent colour way and a good hand

[denmcdough]

Years ago, there was a mill in the Barbason Row area of Dublin. Not sure if it still exists. In fact, Robert Mitchell, a Scot from Paisley, went there as a young man in the 1800's. He stayed there until his death. Somewhere in the 1800's he designed two tartans that I know of... Mary Mod and Macdonagh.

My son leaves tomorrow for a ten day trip in Ireland. I told him to be prepared to snap a shot of a kilt wearer. Not holding my breath.

Also, two years ago, I was in an Irish shop in Cape May, NJ. They had two kilts from Ireland, but I can't remember the maker.

[John McQuillen]

I ask these questions, out of pure interest and for no other reason.

How many kiltmakers are on the Emerald Isle? Are there any? Are there any Irish(North and South) cloth mills weaving tartans? Where do the natives of Ireland get their kilts made, should they want one? Are kilts available over there for hire and if so what tartans are available? Where is the safron cloth used for kilts woven?

My cousin's husband wore her tartan for their wedding and had it made in Scotland (they were married in a chapel by Loch Lomond). At the time there had been talk of wearing an Irish county tartan (he's from Monaghan) but it was dropped in favour of my cousin's clan tartan. From recollection they more or less needed or preferred to get the grooms/groomsmens outfits from scotland, but can't remember if that was convenience or price or whatever. In fairness he travels back and forth between Ireland and Scotland for business so probably not quite the same as someone just constantly residing in ireland. I do know that he wouldn't have worn a kilt if he hadn't been marrying a scot though, he loved doing it but had never done so - it was what my cousin wanted for the wedding day.....

[seanachie]

Here is one that came up instantly in Google:
http://www.ond.ie/index.html

[O'Callaghan]

Here is one that came up instantly in Google:
http://www.ond.ie/index.html

When I was in Cork I purchased a kilt for my daughter made by O'Neill's of Dublin, but she grew out of it without wearing it. Not cool enough for her!

Their website is not very exciting. All their tartans are Scottish (and not a wide choice of those) and the solid colours seem to leave out the saffron and forest green that Irish kilts should be made of according to (19th century) tradition. OTOH, where I have seen their products they have been for women and girls and have been sold as purely fashion garments. IOW, we aren't their target clientele.

I imagine most of their men's kilts are sold to rental shops or pipe bands. Kilted weddings seem to be somewhat popular in Ireland, but apart from that I think all the kilties there are pipers (so, not really all that much different from Scotland, then, LOL!).

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Jock,

In answer to at least part of your question, most big dress hire shops in Ireland offer kilt packages for weddings and, generally speaking, the tartans on offer are the same as one would rent in Edinburgh. In terms of "traditional kilt makers" such as are employed by Stewart Christie, etc., as far as I know there are none in the South (McNeils is really a dress maker) and only one (sorry the name eludes me) in the North, although there are several shops up there selling kilts brought in from Scotland and elsewhere.

Kilt wearing in Ireland is about as rare as rocking horse droppings, and the few kilties occasionally seen about town (at least in Dublin) are usually lads over from Scotland for a stag night or a football match.

[John_Carrick]

Jock
To my knowledge Richard Hare Kilts in Belfast is the only kilt maker in Ireland and Mrs Hare, a nice lady, makes them on the premises but using the same materials as the usual Scottish Suppliers. Pipe bands are their main business.

Essey Musical in Belfast will get you a really good kilt at a good price but sourced from Scotland.

Clearly a huge proportion of people in Northern Ireland regard themselves as Ulster Scots and it is a comfortable environment for a kiltie.

Kilts are popular for weddings and there are scads of Burns nights. Debenhams, other chain stores and independent hire shops in NI are stuffed with highland dress. In the Republic, kilts are becoming common for weddings using the more popular Scottish tartans, but there are fewer suppliers, but Black Tie and Bond Brothers in Dublin push Highland dress quite strongly.

Kilts were often worn for Irish dance, and the kilts were longer and worn without a sporran and were sourced through Irish dance suppliers. Boys hated them and they have died out completely since Riverdance.

Pipe bands are common throughout Ireland and Irish bands have won the World Piping Championships for two years in a row in Glasgow. Some, in the South particularly, may wear plain green or Saffron and some might use county tartans, but Scottish tartans predominate.

In the Irish army I think kilts (Saffron) are only worn by pipers, but in the military in NI kilts are worn on formal occasions and by pipe bands.

Tempted to don my cheap PV Irish national tartan this afternoon for the Ireland Scotland match.

John