Travelling to Ireland

[Woodsman]

The outfit I have now has American written all over it -USAKilts emblem, baseball cap, t-shirt.

As I was dressed in it today I was thinking, it's not so much about Irish heritage as it is comfort. The kilt felt good and as I will be on vacation in Ireland it sure would be nice to be comfortable. Funny wearing the kilt here to Irish festivals and not being able to wear it in Ireland. I don't mean to come accross as disrespectful or an ugly American.

Maybe I should talk about the Cambell's in my family even though they married into it.

I will be posting a couple of photos and would still like everyone's opinion.

[Derek]

For what its worth, n soz to say different .... we have done two 14 days tours (music gigging) in Ireland. These have included Dublin, Galway, Limmerick, Ennis, Cork, Middleton, Naas, Wexford, Waterford, Youghal and several small villages. None have been festivals. They have either been small concert hall/art centres and pubs.
I wore my cilt/kilt all day every day on these tours and did not encounter any problems. We used to 'sightsee' during the day on route to the next gig and have the odd bevy n pub grub as well. Again I never experienced any probs. Just went about my business.
Iechyd Da
Derek

[McClef]

I didn't experience any problems kilted in Ireland either.

But you probably won't see anyone else kilted during your visit.

Come to think of it that can happen in Scotland too!

[Woodsman]

For what its worth, n soz to say different .... we have done two 14 days tours (music gigging) in Ireland. These have included Dublin, Galway, Limmerick, Ennis, Cork, Middleton, Naas, Wexford, Waterford, Youghal and several small villages. None have been festivals. They have either been small concert hall/art centres and pubs.
I wore my cilt/kilt all day every day on these tours and did not encounter any problems. We used to 'sightsee' during the day on route to the next gig and have the odd bevy n pub grub as well. Again I never experienced any probs. Just went about my business.
Iechyd Da
Derek

Derek,
Thanks for the encouraging view. This is exactly what I will be doing. Although not a musician myself, I will be touring with a band as well. And our group will also be sightseeing during the day. Mostly concert halls and pubs but we will finish up at Bunratty where I thought a kilt would be most fitting. From what I understand a kilted bagpiper is part of the entertainment at the castle.

[Woodsman]

I didn't experience any problems kilted in Ireland either.

But you probably won't see anyone else kilted during your visit.

Come to think of it that can happen in Scotland too!

McClef,
It sounds like the kilt is more alive in my homeland than its place of origin. That's why I think the interest in Celtic history and it's perpetuation at Celtic festivals is so important.

Your experience in Ireland is encouraging but I expect that I will still stand out as an American tourist with a kilt, but hey, what's wrong about that? Maybe that in itself is my excuse, if one be needed, to wear the kilt.

[Jack Daw]

If I were to go to Ireland, I would dress pretty much as I did in Scotland, as below. It rained every day, but one, in my three weeks there in 2003. I chose to go wihout my contact lenses and could only wish for auto-wipers for my glasses:

[Woodsman]

Nice photo steve but whatcha wearing below your waist?

[chrisupyonder]

Nice photo steve but whatcha wearing below your waist?

Waders I imagine...

[Jack Daw]

It's a Barbour waxed-cotton rain jacket. It's not a cutaway, so I'm wearing trousers.

[dutchy kilted]

I was in Ireland about two months back with Barleyjuice and went about kilted some of the time and had no bad experiences whatsoever, even in the pubs. Spent time in Dublin, Killarney, and Galway, and got even more compliments/questions than I do in the states.

Get a good waterproof hat and jacket and wear a heavy kilt pin - it gets windy!