My Caubeen Arrived From Ireland!

[Jock Scot]

From what I remember, the pipers of The Irish Guards wore the cap badge over the right eye with the cloth pulled over to the left. In 70 something years, I cannot recall ever seeing a civilian wearing a caubeen, though.

[denmcdough]

Jock is correct, the Caubeen is worn over the right eye with the excess pulled to the left and slightly back, at least in the military. See if this comes through:


https://www.flickr.com/photos/charli...in/photostream

[BCAC]

Jock is correct, the Caubeen is worn over the right eye with the excess pulled to the left and slightly back, at least in the military. See if this comes through:


https://www.flickr.com/photos/charli...in/photostream

You should have said "at least in the Irish Guards" and not "at least in the military". Last I heard The Royal Irish Rangers were also military.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ish_Ranger.jpg

[OC Richard]

Here it is!



Those hats are sharp-looking! Congrats!

[Jock Scot]

To those that may be tad confused over all this, it may help those not familier with the quirks of British Army uniforms, there are basic uniform regulations and then there are individual Regimental uniform traditions and the two are, as in the above situation and somewhat confusingly, not always the same!

[PleatedOne]

Here it is!



Those hats are sharp-looking! Congrats!

Thanks Richard, the pic is very useful.

[John_Carrick]

There is a nice old saying in Ireland about having your hat over your right eye:
You're wearing it on the Kildare side!

[plaid preacher]

Here is a photo I scammed of the Irish Guards from http://thepolera.blogspot.ca/2012/03...heroes-to.html. Cap Badge on the Kildare side. *weg* I learned something today. I note that the Canadian Irish Regimental also wear their cap badge over the right eye, with the bonnet pulled to the left.

[PleatedOne]

Hello John,
Thank you for your reply. Any idea as to how that saying "Kildare side" came to be?
Bob

[John_Carrick]

Hello John,
Thank you for your reply. Any idea as to how that saying "Kildare side" came to be?
Bob

Hi Bob

No is the honest answer. I'd always assumed it was a geographical allusion and your hat could be tilted towards the Dublin side another time.

I would be delighted to be corrected, but I think it has something to do with the (attempted) rule of the Anglo-Norman aristocracy in medieval times in Ireland, mainly centred on the Pale, which comprised much of Counties Dublin, Kildare, Meath and Louth. Many English settlers were going a bit native and the Statute of Kilkenny (1366) laid down that English families should not adopt Irish language, customs, dress etc. The dominant family, exercising military and political power on behalf of the English King were the Fitzgeralds, Earls of Kildare up until the Tudors came to power and got more directly involved in Ireland.