Kilts in The Quiet Man

**Jimmy** · 14th February 11, 03:53 AM

I watched The Quiet Man at the weekend, one of those films, like Braveheart, you can watch time and time again.
In the horseracing scene 'The Innisfree Races' along with a piper in the previous scene, there are 2 young kilted lads, I think both were the Duke's sons but what type of kilts were they wearing - Anyone got any ideas?

**RockyR** · 14th February 11, 07:09 AM

Solid color kilts. There are people up here who are MUCH more schooled on it than I, but here's the SHORT version:

In the early 1900's with the surge in Irish Nationalism, there was a push to separate their identity from anything 'English". One way this was attempted was through kilts to claim "Celtic" heritage, not "English". The difference in the Irish kilts was that they were generally solid colors... Saffron, Blue and Green. The movie had some vague "IRA undertones" and admitted IRA members (actors portraying them) in some scenes.

Yes, the children sitting beside Maureen O'Hara on the cart are all the Duke's kids. It says that in the "director's cut" of the DVD (50th anniversary edition) I have.

**Jimmy** · 14th February 11, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by RockyR

Solid color kilts. There are people up here who are MUCH more schooled on it than I, but here's the SHORT version:

In the early 1900's with the surge in Irish Nationalism, there was a push to separate their identity from anything 'English". One way this was attempted was through kilts to claim "Celtic" heritage, not "English". The difference in the Irish kilts was that they were generally solid colors... Saffron, Blue and Green. The movie had some vague "IRA undertones" and admitted IRA members (actors portraying them) in some scenes.

Yes, the children sitting beside Maureen O'Hara on the cart are all the Duke's kids. It says that in the "director's cut" of the DVD (50th anniversary edition) I have.

Thanks for info, its good to see an actor of the magnitude of John Wayne, even though we are talking of a film made almost 60 years ago,allow his kids to wear the kilt, no doubt John Ford would certainly have approved as this film was his long time ambition to make.

I believe Maureen O'Hara's brother or brothers also appeared in the film as the IRA men. i would have loved to have met Maureen as I considered her one of the most beautiful women in the movies. A few years ago i was staying in Jury's Inn in Ballsbridge, Dublin, i was told by the receptionist that I had just missed Maureen by a day as she always came over to Dublin every year about the same time. I don't suppose she gets about too much now from her home in the Virgin islands

**macwilkin** · 14th February 11, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by RockyR

Solid color kilts. There are people up here who are MUCH more schooled on it than I, but here's the SHORT version:

In the early 1900's with the surge in Irish Nationalism, there was a push to separate their identity from anything 'English". One way this was attempted was through kilts to claim "Celtic" heritage, not "English". The difference in the Irish kilts was that they were generally solid colors... Saffron, Blue and Green. The movie had some vague "IRA undertones" and admitted IRA members (actors portraying them) in some scenes.

Yes, the children sitting beside Maureen O'Hara on the cart are all the Duke's kids. It says that in the "director's cut" of the DVD (50th anniversary edition) I have.

For the LONG version, click here:

http://scottishtartans.org/irish_kilts.htm

BTW, Arthur Shields, the brother of Barry Fitzgerald, who plays the Rev. Mr. Playfair, was a veteran of the Easter Rebellion of 1916.

T.

**David White** · 14th February 11, 02:17 PM

One of the best John Wayne movies.

**Big Mikey** · 14th February 11, 05:59 PM

Every year on St. Patrick's Day, I sit and watch this film before heading to the pub. The fight has got to be one of the best ever done on film.

**Bigkahuna** · 14th February 11, 10:50 PM

Most of the costumes for the movie came from a clothier named O'Malley in Galway.

**Woodsman** · 14th February 11, 11:28 PM

One of my favorite films. I got tired of searching around for it at St. Patrick's day so I bought my own DVD which has a few added scenes that were cut from the original version. I will be viewing it soon with my kilt and a Guinness.

**perkeo** · 15th February 11, 02:12 AM

There are two film traditions I really enjoy watching on St. Patrick's Day. The Quiet Man and Darby O'Gill and the Little People.

**beloitpiper** · 15th February 11, 07:31 AM

Essential St. Patrick's Day viewing: all three seasons of Father Ted.

Oh, and for the Irish-Americans: Boondock Saints. Yes, it's a truly awful film, but it's one of my few guilty pleasures.