Irish Brath (Sash/fly plaid)

[Dan R Porter]

Generally speaking, nobody in Ireland wears kilts except pipers. That being said, kilts etc. aren't proprietary to pipers; if you wish to wear a kilt in a solid color or Irish tartan, you can certainly wear the brath. It's symbolic of the mantle once worn with the leine; the ancient ethnic garb of the Irish, and would be much more "correct" with an Irish kilt than wearing it as a fly plaid. I wear one pretty much every time I wear saffron, including black tie.

If you've a fly plaid, fold it four times lengthwise, lay it flat over your shoulder, and pin it to your left breast; somewhat lower than you would a fly plaid. Traditionally braths are pinned with a Tara-style pennanular brooch, rather than a Scottish-style plaid brooch.

As a piper I frequently see folks wearing fly plaids that aren't pipers, I wouldn't view the wearing of a brath any differently, although I would immediately recognize it as Irish.

I would strongly advise against calling it a "sash". In Ireland the wearing of sashes has political implications and social consequences that you might not care for.

Piobear, looked at your pics and figured you are my best hope for answers and I appreciate your time.Does the brath have to be worn under a passant or can it be pinned and just layed over the shoulder?