Black Irish Tartan?

[cormacmacguardhe]

I got into a discussion with someone, a friend of my daughters, the other day about the kilt he has. He claims it is a "Black Irish" tartan, now I had never heard of this particular one, and the kilt looks quite a lot like a Black Watch. I told him that I did not believe there was such an animal, but he was quite adamant. So, I am going to defer to those on this forum who more knowledgeable than I. Is there such a thing as a "Black Irish" tartan?

[starbkjrus]

Well, I sure I''m no expert but....

Matt Newsome's Compendium of District Tartans does not seem to have an entry for that one nor does the Scotish Tartans Authority. I bow to the experts here but I might suggest that you suggest to your daughter that she exclude the gentleman in question from her dance card from now on.

(Yes, I'm THAT stuffy) :rolleyes:

[michael steinrok]

Is it a black watch, or does it look like one?

[Ruanaidh]

I've heard of the Black Irish, but I didn't know they had their own tartan.

[Sir Robert]

The colour black has for the Irish a Satanic connotation so "Black Irish" = "Damned Irish"

So the Black Irish tartan is the same as the clan McCabre, solid black.

[cormacmacguardhe]

I had another look at the tatan in question, it is a Black Watch. As to the "Black Irish" term, I understood it to refer to people in Ireland who had ancestors who were survivors of the Spanish Armada, the black refers to the fact that they had darker hair and brown eyes.