Kilts and Pipes Co-opted by Irish in America

[O'Searcaigh]

This is a topic that I can relate to very personally. My direct ancestry is Scots (Ulster) Irish and Scottish (proper) -- after all, the islands are not all that far apart. Cultures emerge, diverge, mingle-and-merge all over the world, which can make for some very interesting styles in art, cuisine, customs, dance, dress, music, even personal grooming styles, world-views, beliefs and religions. The ancient Celts spawned a number of more specific cultures from whence those of even Highland and Lowland Scotland could be differentiated, let alone those of Brittany, Ireland and Wales. Today, especially in the United States as is reflective of its “culture,” we see a mixing and merging of such factors into our own unique expressions. Except for a few (usually ill-informed and misguided) among us, we Americans are rarely purists. I love the comfort and style of the kilt and prefer a peaty whisky (e.g., Laphroaig) to Irish distilleds but would take a Three Philosophers over any Irish or Scots brews. I’ve tried my hand at the Great Highland Bagpipes with some success but the Irish Whistle is clearly more my instrument on which I play Irish, Scottish, American, classical and maritime, tunes (the Sailor’s Hornpipe just can’t be done on the GHB) and I feel as much a “mariner” as anything else. So, reflective of my heritage and as an American, my style is perhaps a hodge-podge of pieces stolen from here and there but in the end, its mine! Give me an excuse to celebrate my Celtic and sea-going heritage and history all at once and I’d be in “hog heaven,” as my Tennessee neighbors might say.

[davidlpope]

I am very much aware of the commingling of Scottish and Irish customs and heritage. But it seems to me that in recent years you see more and more use of Scottish kilts and pipes during Irish events. This past Sunday I visited the "Ireland's Great Hunger Museum" (Músaem An Ghorta Mhóir) here in Connecticut. It was very moving and well worth a visit.
It was coincidentally St. Padraig's day and they advertised that they would have some special "Irish" entertainment. Well it turned out to be a very fine piper, fully kilted and playing Scottish bagpipes. He played perhaps 2-3 Irish tunes, but the bulk of his repetoire was Scottish tunes.
Here in Connecticut we have a very fine non-profit the Shamrock Traditional Irish Music Society which literally has hundreds of very fine Irish musicians. When I asked quite politely why they were featuring what was, for all intents and purposes, a Scottish entertainer and not, say, an Irish fiddler, harp, etc. They looked at me as if I had two heads and didn't really respond.
But I see more and more of a crossover at a number of Irish events and more people who see me in my kilt ask if I'm Irish?

Most Americans are simply ignorant. A friend who is a Canadian emigrant of Irish descent was confused to find kilts and bagpipes associated with St. Patrick's Day here in NC. The North Carolinians (most of them, at least) think that's the way it's supposed to be done. Go figure.

[flairball]

Most Americans are simply ignorant. A friend who is a Canadian emigrant of Irish descent was confused to find kilts and bagpipes associated with St. Patrick's Day here in NC. The North Carolinians (most of them, at least) think that's the way it's supposed to be done. Go figure.

Yup. ^^This.

I work with a bunch of proud "Irish" and when I asked a few of them one morning recently why all the highland pipes and klts on St Pattys day they all just looked at each other, then left the room without even trying to give an answer.

BTW, I refer to St Pattys day as the day everyone pretends to be Irish, while the Irish pretend to be Scottish.

[castledangerous]

All of you brilliant cognescenti are aware, of course, that there is a long and established history of an Irish Great Pipe. Yes, of course, how dare I question your genius?

[GrainReaper]

Most Americans are simply ignorant. A friend who is a Canadian emigrant of Irish descent was confused to find kilts and bagpipes associated with St. Patrick's Day here in NC. The North Carolinians (most of them, at least) think that's the way it's supposed to be done. Go figure.

Yup. ^^This.

I work with a bunch of proud "Irish" and when I asked a few of them one morning recently why all the highland pipes and klts on St Pattys day they all just looked at each other, then left the room without even trying to give an answer.

BTW, I refer to St Pattys day as the day everyone pretends to be Irish, while the Irish pretend to be Scottish.

Being of mixed heritage, I am part proud Scot, proud Irish, and proud German, my lineage gets me a hall pass to wear a kilt on saint Patricks day, but I seem a bit confused at the friction.... Evidence points to saint Patrick as being a Scot or Brit, both are a kilt wearing lot anymore, given the migratory history of the area, is it such a stretch to bring a kilt into saint Patricks day? Or pipes? I look at it as another avenue for people to discover the wonder of the kilt regardless of genetic makeup.

[davidlpope]

All of you brilliant cognescenti are aware, of course, that there is a long and established history of an Irish Great Pipe. Yes, of course, how dare I question your genius?

Did you see any of those Irish Great Pipes on St. Patrick's Day? Any bagpipes with only one tenor drone? Any Brian Boru chanters?

[Dale Seago]

Interesting Wikipedia article with lots of historic references on use of the mouth-blown piob mhor (as distinct from the bellows-operated uillean pipes) by the Irish:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Irish_Warpipes

[davidlpope]

Evidence points to saint Patrick as being a Scot or Brit, both are a kilt wearing lot anymore, given the migratory history of the area, is it such a stretch to bring a kilt into saint Patricks day?

Yes. Neither the great kilt or the little kilt existed at the time that Saint Patrick (that is, the Two Patricks...) lived.

[castledangerous]

Didn't see any pipes, not even my own. Thanks for asking though.

[GrainReaper]

Yes. Neither the great kilt or the little kilt existed at the time that Saint Patrick (that is, the Two Patricks...) lived.

So should we dress period appropriate for other events also?
Didn't Robert Burns live during the post-Jacobite ban on kilts? So that would mean no kilts on Burns' night correct?

Just wondering if your thought on period dress is consistent or if you just don't like the idea of wearing of a kilt on a non Scot holiday by people without Scot heritage.....