Irish Saffron Kilt

[michael steinrok]

What The Heck Is With Those Saffron Kilts? How Did That Come About? Any Historical Facts About Them?

[Big Dave]

It's said that's what the Irish wore. That's about all I know!?

[emeraldfalconoflight]

From what I understand they came about for two reasons, One because saffron was the color that the nobles or upper class wore, and two because of the way the leine shirt/tunic was.

Any other takers on this one?

[macwilkin]

The saffron kilt originates in the 19th century in the Irish regiments of the British Army, who adopted the uniform of the pipers and drummers of the Highland regiments. Unlike the Scots, only musicians (and some officers) wore the saffron kilt as part of their uniform. The Royal Irish Regiment's pipers still wear them, as well as the Pipe Band of the Irish Republic's Air Corps.

Several of the Irish revolutionaries of 1916 also adopted the kilt (in saffron and green colours). Patrick Pearce, one of the leaders of the Easter Rebellion, even adopted the kilt as a uniform for his school for boys, St. Enda's, which was supposed to educate Irish boys on "traditional" Irish culture. From what I have read, the boys took quite a few beatings from local boys over their kilts. Eamonn Ceannt, another leader in the '16, reportedly played the uilleann pipes for the Pope dressed in a green kilt. Another Irishman, Pierce O'Mahony, wore a green kilt & is pictured in "ancient" Irish dress, complete with wolfhound. O'Mahony lived in Bulgaria and is quite the national hero there -- a tartan was recently introduced in his honour.

Cheers,

Todd

[g koch]

Don't forget the Irish Regiment of Canada!

http://www.regiments.org/tradition/tartans/ca-irish.htm

[Mike S]

And certainly don't forget the Irish Guards:
http://www.drumsandpipes.co.uk/

[Sir Robert]

Saffron is a traditional dye used in leine by the Irish & Scots and can absolutely be traced back into antiquity by the Irish. They thus can claim that color as their own.

While I laugh at an Irishman in a tartan kilt, solids and especialy stripes are quite legitimately and unquely Irish.

[macwilkin]

Don't forget the Irish Regiment of Canada!

http://www.regiments.org/tradition/tartans/ca-irish.htm

...except they wear a tartan, according to the web site above, which is sometimes mistaken for the Ulster tartan. ;)

Cheers,

Todd

[macwilkin]

And certainly don't forget the Irish Guards:
http://www.drumsandpipes.co.uk/

How could I forget "The Micks" (regimental nickname of the IG's)?

Thanks for that link, btw...

Cheers,

Todd

[michael steinrok]

cool links I can hardly wait to check them out when I get home 8-)