Irish accoutrements

[OC Richard]

I don't believe this to be entirely true... It is my understanding that Douglas Hyde and the other founders of the Gaelic League were well aware that they were borrowing the kilt directly from the Highlanders, with whom the GL felt they had great cultural affinity. In the absence of a "Native Irish Dress" that would be recognizable in modern times, I believe they chose to try to adopt the most iconic piece of clothing associated with a modern Gaelic people.

For sure that's what ended up happening, the wearing of ordinary modern Scottish Highland kilts.

But if you see some of the early Irish Revival kilts, they don't look like Scottish kilts at all, but thin fabric skirts gathered or pleated all around, quite obviously derived from the bottom of the old saffron leine.

Note the big sleeves and gathers/pleats all around, the costume an attempt at recreating the look of the old images.



Here you can see the embroidery such as is seen on the ionair in the old images (though the originals weren't Celtic knotwork)