Irish Kilts and Tartans

**Chas** · 27th February 10, 04:06 AM

I think that effectively puts that subject to bed - well done you two.

Now if you could just do something on white hose...

Regards

Chas

**macwilkin** · 27th February 10, 12:23 PM

I do have one query about the article, though. It appears to place the British Army use of the saffron kilt (for pipers in Irish regiments) very late, after the Irish nationalists wore it. I have seen many references to much earlier use of the saffron kilt by the British Army in this way, even as early as 1857. Of course, I have no proof. Perhaps a little research into the Tyrone Fusiliers, or Royal Tyrone Fusiliers might either verify or disprove this, and reports of slightly later use by the Inniskillen or Enniskillen Regiment or Fusiliers might also be worth looking into.

All of the references to the Royal Tyrone Fusiliers I have found mention the adoption of the pipes, but nothing about the kilt, caubeen, etc. Harris, for example, documents the adoption of kilt by the pipers of the Inskillings in the 1920s, as our article states.

T.

**Arlen** · 26th February 10, 10:02 PM

Fantastic, concise, honest and factual. I love it.

**SFCRick** · 27th February 10, 12:44 AM

Well done

**Jock Scot** · 27th February 10, 01:19 AM

I have no Irish connections, but I have always wondered about their ties with the kilt and now I know. Exellent work, well presented.

**dfmacliam** · 27th February 10, 01:58 AM

I guess I am a "plastic Paddy" as refered to by Mr Shoe.... I am glad you can feel free enough to place a degrading label on me and others who are of Irish blood... Thank You

**Radge** · 27th February 10, 05:20 AM

Excellent study, many thanks gentlemen. FWIW the Kilt should be a symbol of pride for Scots and the rest of the Celtic world (and anyone else who cares to wear it with respect) in order to show a bit of cultural solidarity - afterall successive monarch's and central governments have given our heritage a bit of a bashing all the way back to those pesky Romans...

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 27th February 10, 07:53 AM

I'm surprised no one has noticed this yet. We didn't point it out in the article itself, but in the accompanying pictures, take a close look at the pleats in the kilts. They are all running the opposite direction as we would expect. Mayhaps this was the Irish kiltmakers' attempt to make their version of the kilt a bit different from the Scottish kilt?

**Red Stag** · 28th March 10, 11:13 PM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

I'm surprised no one has noticed this yet. We didn't point it out in the article itself, but in the accompanying pictures, take a close look at the pleats in the kilts. They are all running the opposite direction as we would expect. Mayhaps this was the Irish kiltmakers' attempt to make their version of the kilt a bit different from the Scottish kilt?

I'm surprised that I haven't seen more discussion about this... I wonder if some of our kiltmakers on this forum would take note and start offering pleats going in the opposite direction for saffron or green kilts or for tartans of Irish surnames. I have thought about getting a saffron kilt for a few months but I was thinking of getting a traditional wool kilt for my Irish surname first.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 29th March 10, 03:54 AM

Originally Posted by Red Stag

I'm surprised that I haven't seen more discussion about this... I wonder if some of our kiltmakers on this forum would take note and start offering pleats going in the opposite direction for saffron or green kilts or for tartans of Irish surnames. I have thought about getting a saffron kilt for a few months but I was thinking of getting a traditional wool kilt for my Irish surname first.

A wool kilt in Saffron would be very traditional! And I'm sure if you asked your kiltmaker to have the pleats run the opposite direction he/she could accomodate.