Thanks to all who replied to my question. It seems there are many different points of view of the Irish kilt connection.

To be honest, I don't see much of a connection between kilts and Irish culture. I'm not disagreeing that some Irish; military, politicians, Ulster-Scots (ex-pat Scots) wore them, but I don't see this as making them cultural. I work in an are with a heavy Irish immigrant population so I often have occassion to talk with a cross section of that population . I've also been to some of the bars where this population congregates. Any conversation I've engaged in about kilt (both while kilted and not), the kilt has been dismissed by these people as a symbol of their culture. Sure, they know what it is, and know of Irish usage, but it's not been accepted by them as part of their culture.

So, I guess the feeling I have is that if it's not widely accepted by the culture it's not a part of the culture.

Now, before I completely piss off all our Irish kilties out there, I'd like to add that I don't care who wears a kilt, or why, I just don't agree with the cultural connection reasoning. I am very fond of some of the Irish Tartans, as well as Saffron too. I just think that if you were to tell an Irishman (or woman for that matter) that you were a kilt because you are celebrating/ honoring your culture they will either think your Scottish, or don't know jack about Irish culutre. Knowing the cultural connection goes hand in hand with knowing the history and significance of the tartan you choose, so If you were wearing, say a Saffron kilt to honor an Irish regiment then I'd say that is connection.

Anyway, that's how I see it. Not trying to knock anyone around. I hope my view is understood, and I to see more replies.