Kilted in Ireland? Any Irish X-Markers?

[O'Callaghan]

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.

[beloitpiper]

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.

I just returned form Belfast a few weeks ago, and I can tell you that a kilt IS a political statement in the North. Unless you are prepared to support a side, personally I would not suggest a kilt. Rural Northern Ireland would be a bit safer, but there are parts in the North, even after all of the peace they have enjoyed, that I would not feel comfortable in with a kilt on.

[O'Callaghan]

I just returned form Belfast a few weeks ago, and I can tell you that a kilt IS a political statement in the North. Unless you are prepared to support a side, personally I would not suggest a kilt. Rural Northern Ireland would be a bit safer, but there are parts in the North, even after all of the peace they have enjoyed, that I would not feel comfortable in with a kilt on.

I'm not surprised. My guess is that a green kilt would label you as republican and a saffron one (incorrectly) as unionist, just because it's not far off the colour orange, and that almost any tartan would be taken as unionist unless they recognise it as being republican (they might recognise Irish National, at a pinch), and then you're no better off. As you say, if you're prepared to declare an allegiance that's one thing, but best not to, I reckon.

There again, I'd only have to open my mouth and I could be in trouble, when they hear my English accent, at least with the republicans. Ahh, but I'm a Callaghan from the South on my mother's side, but better not tell that to the unionists. Better for me to stay entirely out of Northern Ireland altogether. In fact I'm scared to ever set foot there, to be brutally frank. I have the misfortune to have been born on both sides of their conflict. EDIT - in their terms I am 'mixed' race, even though I'm entirely caucasian!

OTOH, having an English accent was never a problem in the South. Mind you, there was one time a bartender ignored me, but I thought it was my long hair. I suppose it might have been my English accent. Either way, he wasn't the only person behind the bar, and I got served by someone else.

PS: I hope the mods don't think this is too political, but it's really just about safety.

[thanmuwa]

I'm not surprised. My guess is that a green kilt would label you as republican and a saffron one (incorrectly) as unionist, just because it's not far off the colour orange, and that almost any tartan would be taken as unionist unless they recognise it as being republican (they might recognise Irish National, at a pinch), and then you're no better off. As you say, if you're prepared to declare an allegiance that's one thing, but best not to, I reckon.

Don't get too worried by the way. Northern Ireland is not the scary place people often think it is. I personally feel safer walking down the street in Belfast than in any other capital or big city in the UK, even in a kilt. And I have one of the few accents that can guarantee a hostile reaction in certain quarters (Southern Irish accent) so if there was trouble to be had, I am sure I would have seen it. The vast, vast majority of Northern Irish people are very friendly and glad to receive tourists...

There again, I'd only have to open my mouth and I could be in trouble, when they hear my English accent, at least with the republicans. Ahh, but I'm a Callaghan from the South on my mother's side, but better not tell that to the unionists. Better for me to stay entirely out of Northern Ireland altogether. In fact I'm scared to ever set foot there, to be brutally frank. I have the misfortune to have been born on both sides of their conflict.

As am I, my dad is English, I was born in Southern England, I grew up in the Republic of Ireland and hence have a Southern Irish accent, but in my 4 years living in Belfast I never had a single iota of trouble (I didn't wear a kilt then though ) nor did any of my English friends.
An English accent is not that big a deal and no indicator of political affiliation, and Northern Ireland is a lovely place to visit, even if it is just for the King and Queen of all breakfasts, the Ulster Fry . Belfast is increasingly cosmopolitan, and compact enough to do it all on foot (unless you want to do the Mural tours - get the bus for that), Derry is a beautiful city with a fantastic buzz to it and the only complete city walls in Europe (as far as I am aware) - and they are wide enough at the top to drive a car on! It is also the gateway to the wild and rugged Donegal, the northernmost part of Ireland (but in Southern Ireland ) Armagh is tiny, but feels like a capsule in time and has many links with St Patrick and a planetarium! (I am a physicist so I was obliged to mention the planetarium ). The Marble Arch caves in Fermanagh have an underground boat ride which I keep meaning to go on any time I am home but I have heard it is good...

This message was sponsored by the Norn Iron Tourist board (I wish )

[beloitpiper]

Better for me to stay entirely out of Northern Ireland altogether. In fact I'm scared to ever set foot there, to be brutally frank. I have the misfortune to have been born on both sides of their conflict. EDIT - in their terms I am 'mixed' race, even though I'm entirely caucasian!

That's really too bad. In all honesty, Northern Ireland has taken a 180-degree turn. If you look at the stats, Belfast is the second safest city in the world after Tokyo. There hasn't been sectarian violence in over a dozen years, which means a whole generation has grown up without knowing war. They're not stupid bigots--they won't hate you because of your accent. Now, if you voice an opinion on one of the Glasgow football clubs, that's your own doing!

So please reconsider Northern Ireland. You'd be missing a lot if you don't check it out. Belfast is an amazing city. The Antrim Coast Road, Giant's Causeway, the Walls of Derry, the cathedrals of Armagh, the path of St. Patrick in Co. Down, it is all so beautiful, and you'll be hard-pressed to find nicer people than people from Northern Ireland.