Derrick's The Image of Irelande (1581) & Irish Clothing

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Matt,

Is your opinion that the Dungiven Costume was made in Scotland, by a Scot for a Scot with Scottish made materials?

While it is possible that the trews were made in Scotland for a Scot, it is just as possible that they were made in Scotland for an Irish man.

Once, while discussing ancient Irish dress with Fergus Gillespie, former Chief Herald of Ireland, he pointed out that the O'Neill had ordered suits of clothes (ie: trews) from Glasgow, and that the letter in O'Neill's hand was to be found in the manuscripts section of the National Library.

While we'll never know for certain, the likelihood is that the tartan was woven in Scotland, and that the trews were made in Scotland. How they came to be in Ireland is anybody's guess, but it's fun to conjecture that they may have originally belonged to the O'Niell, himself.