Quote Originally Posted by O'Callaghan View Post
It would be reasonable for someone writing in the 19th century to have concluded that Irish kilts were a new thing and not historical. Newsflash, it's the 21st century, now folks! Treating something that originated in the 19th century as not historical is like treating Queen Victoria as if she were still on the throne. Perhaps some people think she is, LOL! Better cover the table legs, lest they should inflame your passions.
When folks like me say there is no "historical" evidence for "Irish kilts" what we mean is that there is no reason in the historical record to believe that the kilt ever formed part of the native Irish dress. Kilts were not part of Irish fashion. They were never worn by any significant number of Irish men. For a time they were worn by a relatively small sub-set of Irish nationalists in an attempt to define a "national costume" but this was not entirely successful, as the article shows.