Highland footwear

[OC Richard]

Those seem to be relataed to the pampootie (pamputa in Gaelic), which are still worn in the Aran isles off the west coast of Ireland



These traditional Gaelic shoes are described in 1542, John Elder writing of the dress of Highlanders to King Henry VIII

"...we can not suffir bair footide...after we have slayne redd deir, we flaye of the skyne, bey and bey, and settinge of our bair foote on the insyde therof, for neid of cunnynge shoemakers, by your Graces pardon, we play the sutters; compasinge and mesuringe so moche therof, as shall retche up to our ancklers, pryckynge the upper part thereof also with holis, that the watrer may repas wher it entris, and stretchide up with a stronge thwange of the same, meitand above our saide ancklers, so, and pleas your noble Grace, we make our shoois: Therefor, we using suche maner of shoois, the roghe hairie syde outwart..."

In The Highlanders Of Scotland most of the ghillies which appear are light brown, perhaps suede. One of the subjects, Kenneth MacSwyde, is wearing a waistbelt and crossbelt with the fur still on the leather, indeed "the roghe hairie syde outwart".