Irish accoutrements

[Tarheel]

Here is a photo of my Purple Shamrock (Oxalis regnellii) and a mutant "5 leaved" clover growing in my yard. Some of us seem to have all the luck.

[Profane James]

A Springfield clover - d'oh!

[Mel1721L]

My Great Grandmother was a Donovan and I wear an Irish kilt pin sometimes for her but as an ex British soldier who served in Northern Ireland I'm not too keen on wearing things which remind me of the IRA.

[O'Callaghan]

My Great Grandmother was a Donovan and I wear an Irish kilt pin sometimes for her but as an ex British soldier who served in Northern Ireland I'm not too keen on wearing things which remind me of the IRA.

I see you are in Spain but have a Welsh motto. I'm English, but have Irish blood too. I have mixed feelings about the IRA. On the one hand, I was once at a tube station in London about an hour before a bomb threat. OTOH, the various risings throughout Irish history were justified in my view, and there were various different groups called the IRA at various times. The group that came closest to blowing me up (and doubtless you too) were the provisional IRA, who like the official IRA before them have given up violence, but now both the so-called real IRA and the continuity IRA remain as armed groups.

No doubt this will get removed, but I would like to say that the only element of kilt regalia that corresponds in any way to IRA uniform is a black caubeen. Even green ones are worn by the British Army (although I'd imagine your regiment was Welsh, and would of course not have worn such a thing). Both are freely available. All you have to do is not buy a black one.

[Mel1721L]

I see you are in Spain but have a Welsh motto. I'm English, but have Irish blood too. I have mixed feelings about the IRA. On the one hand, I was once at a tube station in London about an hour before a bomb threat. OTOH, the various risings throughout Irish history were justified in my view, and there were various different groups called the IRA at various times. The group that came closest to blowing me up (and doubtless you too) were the provisional IRA, who like the official IRA before them have given up violence, but now both the so-called real IRA and the continuity IRA remain as armed groups.

No doubt this will get removed, but I would like to say that the only element of kilt regalia that corresponds in any way to IRA uniform is a black caubeen. Even green ones are worn by the British Army (although I'd imagine your regiment was Welsh, and would of course not have worn such a thing). Both are freely available. All you have to do is not buy a black one.

I don't see why it should be removed, it isn't offensive. I'm English born but with Welsh ancestry on my mothers side. She was a Powell and her family originated in Pembroke. My Great Grandmother, who I never knew was Irish as I said. As a Heathen, ancestors form an important part of our philosophy and I wear the Irish kilt pin with an Irish heart just as a token of respect for her, though I suspect her family line was more honourable than the Welsh one. Hat wise, I either wear a black beret with my old Army cap Motto and Powell crest on it, or a broad brimmed straw hat. I wouldn't wear Irish or Scottish headgear as it really doesn't suit the climate here and there is no Welsh headdress.

My regiment was English, 17th/21st Lancers, though destroyed now by the British government.

[Mac Thréinfhir]

Being totally new to the kilt scene, i am having an issue accessorising my Irish Saffron kilt. My main issues concern my hose, flashes, and sporran.

1) Am i correct in thinking that black is the more correct colour of hose when wearing the Saffron?

2) What flashes should i wear with them, if any?
I've read somewhere that wearers like to match them with the tartan. Does that mean that i should look for saffron coloured flashes?

3) Is a sporran typically worn with the Saffron kilt? Specifically for formal events?

Im having a real problem determining answers to these questions, so any help is really appreciated, thanks!


Mac Thréinfhir

[Wareyin]

Being totally new to the kilt scene, i am having an issue accessorising my Irish Saffron kilt. My main issues concern my hose, flashes, and sporran.

1) Am i correct in thinking that black is the more correct colour of hose when wearing the Saffron?

2) What flashes should i wear with them, if any?
I've read somewhere that wearers like to match them with the tartan. Does that mean that i should look for saffron coloured flashes?

3) Is a sporran typically worn with the Saffron kilt? Specifically for formal events?

Im having a real problem determining answers to these questions, so any help is really appreciated, thanks!


Mac Thréinfhir

I'm also pretty new to kilt wearing, but I'll try to help.

1) I don't really know. For Highland wear, it seems many colors are acceptable, so I would guess the same for a saffron kilt. I'd avoid white or saffron, though. I struggle with seeing colors, but a quick google search turns up images of diced hose, mustard hose, and green hose all with the saffron kilt.

2) The rental shops tell us that flashes should match our tartans, and I have worn my Buchanan flashes a few times with my Buchanan. I'm getting away from that, though, and prefer either solid red garter ties or some yellow ones I'm having made. I think flashes are pretty much your choice, just don't mix tartans.

3) If the saffron kilt has no pockets, I'd think a sporran is necessary.

I realize that these aren't Irish specific answers, but I hope they help.

[OC Richard]

black is the more correct colour of hose when wearing Saffron?

The "Irish saffron kilt" is a modern creation, so there's really no "tradition" to fall back on; thus I don't think any colour is more correct than any other. So, I would be guided by aesthetics. I often see green, blue, and black hose worn with Saffron kilts.

I have read that the actual Saffron colour of ancient Irish garments was a light pure yellow, not the burnt-orange or yellow-brown seen in revival "Saffron" kilts.

What flashes should i wear with them, if any?

I would say any colour that looks good.

Is a sporran typically worn with the Saffron kilt? Specifically for formal events?

Being that kilts don't have pockets, a sporran would ordinarily be worn for practical reasons, at all times, I would think.

Here's the very image that inspired the late 19th century Irish Revivalists to create a "saffron kilt". They didn't realise that what they were seeing was the bottom of the shirt (leine in Irish). We all know now, but the horse has left the barn. In the Highlands of Scotland the kilt evolved after this period, not from the leine but from the brat or mantle, the purple thing the front man has draped over his arm.

[GrainReaper]

The "Irish saffron kilt" is a modern creation, so there's really no "tradition" to fall back on; thus I don't think any colour is more correct than any other. So, I would be guided by aesthetics. I often see green, blue, and black hose worn with Saffron kilts.

I have read that the actual Saffron colour of ancient Irish garments was a light pure yellow, not the burnt-orange or yellow-brown seen in revival "Saffron" kilts.

I would say any colour that looks good.



Being that kilts don't have pockets, a sporran would ordinarily be worn for practical reasons, at all times, I would think.

Here's the very image that inspired the late 19th century Irish Revivalists to create a "saffron kilt". They didn't realise that what they were seeing was the bottom of the shirt (leine in Irish). We all know now, but the horse has left the barn. In the Highlands of Scotland the kilt evolved after this period, not from the leine but from the brat or mantle, the purple thing the front man has draped over his arm.

You sir are a treasure trove of information, I always look forward to reading your posts!

[Wareyin]

I second GrainReaper: the information OC Richard provides in invaluable. The pictures are quite helpful to those of us who did not grow up where kilt wearing was common.