Kilt Go Braugh? A cultural/historical question

[wscottmac]

First -- to the Mods: thanks so much for reinstating this thread. I had absolutely no intention of starting a political or religious debate. I was just curious what folks (esp. over in Ireland/England/Scotland) see as the UNIFYING bonds between the Irish and Scottish, how that fits in with the English, and the historical reasons for Scottish cultural participation in St. Patty's Day. It's a very interesting subject to me (coming from Ulster Scot ancestors), and I'd imagine, to others on this board. Like you said, this does steer close to some dangerous waters, but it isn't my intention to bring any of that into this discussion.

Here's my thought process: I know I like wearing the kilt on St. Patty's Day. Love hearing the 'pipes and drinking Guiness. In my gut I kinda feel like St. Patty's (here in the US) has maybe become (like so many other things) a watered down, Marketing driven production. Like - some Marketing exec. back in the 1950's said, "Hey, ya know, we could throw some kilted pipers in that parade, huh? It's all kinda Celtic-like, right" --- and, that it just stuck.

I'm really looking for other folk's thoughts/history on good LEGITIMATE (and positive) historical reasons for Scottish cultural participation in St. Patty's Day, and other unifying bonds b/t the Scots, Irish, and English.

Another way to state this may be, "What thoughts do you personally have when you don your kilt on March 17th?"


MKFarkus - thanks for taking the time to summarize that history. It was a good refresher, and a good jumping off point for this discussion. I appreciate it.

[Mael Coluim]

Another way to state this may be, "What thoughts do you personally have when you don your kilt on March 17th?"
.

Before there was a Scotland or Ireland or England; there was the Kingdom of Dalraida. Dalraida included lands both in the north of Ireland and the west of Scotland. The peoples considered the sea between them as their highway. It was these people the Romans called the Scotti that the name Scotland was derived.

My clan Malcolm/MacCallum hails from the Poltalloch peninsula of Argyll. Within this area is the ancient fort of Dunadd where the King of the eastern Kingdom of Dalraida reigned. Legend has it that the Irish St. Columba when searching for a place in ‘Scotland’ to establish his abbey was given/directed to the Isle of Iona. (This occurred in the 6th century, a century after St. Patrick came to Ireland.) The name Malcolm/MacCallum/ Mael Coluim means follower of St. Columba.

When I put on my Malcolm tartan kilt on St. Patrick’s Day I think of this common heritage.

Duntrune is the background - fresh from rowing the 'Colmcille' from Ireland!

[beowulf67]

Another way to state this may be, "What thoughts do you personally have when you don your kilt on March 17th?"

Same as always.."D@*N, I look good!"