Kilts in Ireland

[Jimmy Carbomb]

For Irish Tartans... district and name... hit here:
http://www.scotchcorner.com/tartan-index.html

[bear]

There are some Irish family Tartans, but there they are few and far between. Mostly they are by trade district (County). Although, I would recommend you read about The O'Dinan on the Irish Kilt Club website at the following:

http://www.somebody.to/od.htm

Cheers,

Tobie

That's a great site, not just because they put my pic on their Modern Kilts page, but because they don't get negative. It's a positive site dedicated to promoting Irish Kilts.

Irish kilts are traditionally solid colours, saffron being the main colour. Read more on the Irish Kilt Club page at the link Tobie gave above.

[macwilkin]

Bear, I just recommended you to the President of the local Irish society here...he wants an Irish kilt, and I told him about the Saffron ones...hopefully he will get in contact with you!

T.

[KiltedHuntsman]

Regrettably this is untrue and it has been established that there are no historical Irish connections with the kilt.

I read somewhere that some believe that the precusor to the Kilt actually originated in the northern highlands of Ireland and it spread to Scotland, where it became the the full length kilt, which later evolved to the modern kilt. Some early Scottish factory owner created and encouraged the wearing of the short modern kilt by his workers because the full length one was interfering with the machinery.

(I read it on the Internet, so it *must* be true)

(Just got back from Scotland today, where I got measured for a Montrose jacket, and ordered a Fly Plaid too!)


[/quote]

[Kiltedmusiclover]

You might want to read the thread “History of a kilt.”
They go into great detail and debate on the
topic.
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1098

I'm more interested in you trip. Give us some of the
highlights. Did you take your kilt(s) and how
were they received?

[KiltedHuntsman]

Didn't bring any Kilts, it was a business trip (engineering stuff), with a side trip to Edinburgh (crazy downtown traffic)to get the Montrose, Fly Plaid and Diced Hose ordered. Also got a pair of Buckle Brogues. Wore my usual executive western wear (western cut suit and Stetson, makes me look like a Texas oilman). That wigged the Scots out sufficiently. The office says we Americans should maintain a low profile while traveling abroad, and shouldn't appear obviously American. I don't feel threatened in the British Isles, but I will *not* wear my Stetson on mainland Europe. Too many crazies running loose.

Today at Glasgow airport I did see a guy who obviously did not get the memo. Big, <ahem> *stout*, tattooed, bearded, gentleman, who has to be nicknamed Porkchop and must ride a Harley, wearing a sleeveless T shirt with a big ol' American flag and "American Pride" printed on the front, striding through the airport crowd. Either he would scare the terrorists off, or they would go after him before they got me.

[Daneel]

I'm just back from a family holiday at Westport Co.Mayo on the west coast of Ireland. I wore my kilt and all I got was comments from french kids, who shouted le Ecosse and pointed. I smiled and walked on. The locals took no notice. I even climbed Croagh Patrick wearing it and I was complimented by a Dutch man.( Have a look at my website and see photos of the climb www.snlapping.co.uk/kilts )

[Graham]

Just found your website again, I love the page on your walk to the Reek, the mountain is not unlike Mt.Snowdon, which I climbed one year ago this month (in 30 deg. temp) It looked like a quarry too!

[Silverlake_Punk]

Hey shillelaghdude - what happened? Did you have fun or what? Inquiring minds want to know.

Steve

[shillelaghbruises]

just got back on thursday and it was awesome... I did wear my kilt, mostly with other Americans from my group, but it was a hit and the Irish people who saw it loved it. I'll get some pics up and post a new topic about my trip.