Quote Originally Posted by thanmuwa View Post
It also depends on which part of Ireland. In the Republic of Ireland, kilt-wearing is almost non-existant. (One of my uncles remembers a guy wearing one when he grew up in Clifden. That was the only Irish guy he had ever seen in a kilt in 55 years until me). In Northern Ireland it is still rare, especially for everyday use, but formal kilt-wear has links to pipe bands, Scotland (ie Ulster Scots or Scotch-Irish I think you call 'em in the States), the British army etc, so some people may suspect you are declaring your politico-religious affiliations (only until they hear your accent, assuming you do have an American accent ).

Saying that, the people both sides of the border are in general very friendly and your kilt is far more likely to be used as an excuse to start a conversation than anything else. You might even be bought a whiskey or two . I would recommend (south of the border) Green Spot or Redbeast (THE best Irish whiskey) if you can find them, Powers if you can't and north of the border Black Bush is nice or any well aged Bushmills. You are only allowed to add a drop of water, no other mixers allowed in good whiskey (Aside: My other half insists on adding coke, most recently to a 16yo Lagavulin! She is lucky I love her!)
Wear your kilt and enjoy your trip! Are you planning anywhere in particular to visit?
I would just add that they do have plenty of pipe bands in the Republic too, not just in the North, and those were the ones I was talking about, not those in the North. Their origins have nothing to do with Scotland as such.

I agree, though, that kilts could be misinterpreted in the North, although I have never been there (the North, that is, I have indeed visited the Republic). I would especially be concerned, rightly or wrongly, that a saffron kilt might be interpreted as representing the loyalist cause in the North, even though it is worn by the pipers in the armed forces of the Republic as well as by those in the Irish regiments of the British Army.