To kilt or not to kilt: A St. Paddy's Day conundrum

[macwilkin]

Todd-

You bring up another excellent question that I have always wondered at. Police and fire departments are traditional occupations for Irish immigrants. That's why I've always wondered how scottish pipes and drums bands (dressed in highland regalia) became associated (iconic even) of police, fire, and military funerals and other events. Clearly those departments have strong associations with Irish immigrants, so why the Scottish identity? Were those early Irish firemen and policemen of mixed Scots-Irish descent?

This is why I grew up thinking that kilts were Irish.

A lot of it, I believe, is due to the adoption of traditional Highland attire by Irish Nationalists and the Irish Regiments of the British Army (and odd pairing, to be sure!) at the beginning of the 20th century.

T.

[Bugbear]

I just can't seem to express what I'm trying to say, so I'm taking what I wrote out. I'm sorry.

[Clockwork John]

Wear a kilt if you want, don't wear one if you don't. I, for one, will not be kilted. I'll be wearing my Irish Rugby track jacket, green braces(suspenders), and Guinness logo flat cap. I plan on celebrating like a true hooligan.

After all, I'm just as proud of my Irish heritage as I am of my Scots.

[Andrewson]

If I was going to a St Patrick's Day celebration I'd certainly wear the kilt. I'm not Irish. I'm Scottish. When my Irish friends are celebrating their nationality I'd want to be showing off mine too.

I have been in Oslo twice on the Norwegian National Day (17 May) when they all seem to don their national costume. Both times I proudly wore the kilt and everybody I met seemed to think that was the appropriate thing for me to do.

[Donnie]

Any excuse is a good excuse for wearing a kilt. My brother-in-law and I will be in our kilts for his annual (he's very Irish) pub crawl around Annapolis, MD.
I guess I should say hi to everyone, I haven't posted on this forum since 2005. But, I'm back and doing well, just been busy. Life sometimes gets in the way, doesn't it?

[McClef]

Not that I need a special reason for wearing a kilt anyway but it's my brother's birthday on St Patrick's day and it's his middle name!

His first is David!

I am fortunate to have a kilt to cover all the UK celtic saints so just as my St David's National will be on tomorrow, my Irish National will be worn on St Patrick and St Piran (for Cornwall) falls in between so then will wear my Cornish National.

But if you don't have the "right" tartan for the occasion it is still a symbol of celtic pride and solidarity (rugby internationals forgotten...). The St David's day March in Cardiff will have people from Cornwall and Brittany and they will be as equally accepted and honoured for honouring Wales.

It's no big issue to be kilted on a national day other than your own!

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Okay, so St. Patrick's Day is the national holiday of Ireland and kilts are the Scottish national dress.

I think that pretty much answers your question. It's their day, so let them have it without any sort of competition for the spotlight. To me, wearing a kilt on Paddy's Day would be the same as showing up on St. Andrew's Day wearing a green bowler, fake red whiskers, and a tee-shirt that said "Kiss Me, I'm Irish". Er, just a tad outta place...

And like Chef said, I can't stand a pub crowded with amateurs.

[Makeitstop]

Most of my friends only see me in a kilt, so if I see any of them on st paddy's I will probably wear pants just to screw with them.

I see no good reason not to wear a kilt, aside from not wanting to answer questions. If anything, you can use the opportunity to set some people straight. Or lie to them, that's fun too.


And I could be wrong about this, as I am no expert, but don't bagpipes have a longer history with the irish than the kilt does?

[Kiltman]

So, wear the kilt. There are excuses and reasons not to wear the kilt. This sounds like and excuse not a reason.

[Larry124]

Depends on where you go and how late you stay.

I can think of two establishments nearby that draw Irish-Americans and Irish immigrants where the bar crowd might view the kilt as a non-Irish (or even un-Irish) garment. Even saffron or green might be seen as having “connotations”.

And a half-dozen other places where a kilt in a tartan such as Irish National would be welcome as part of the celebration.

I intend to wear the kilt on that day but I don’t yet know where.

Guess I’ll have to extensively scout out some possibilities.
(At least that’s the excuse I’ll give the wife…)