Panache Answers the "Big Kilt Questions"

**chrisupyonder** · 30th August 11, 10:02 PM

Panache Answers the "Big Kilt Questions"

Eloquently.

Many thanks for this.

I would add one more regarding matching colours of shirt/tie/hose/flashes/kilt/jacket etc. etc. Don't bother.

Chris.

**Dale Seago** · 30th August 11, 10:06 PM

Originally Posted by Mickey

I'm surprised that some folks have been assumed to be Irish rather than Scottish. I've never met anybody who didn't assume me to be Scottish right from the start.

Happens to me now and then, most recently this past Saturday. And the same day, someone else (ethnically Chinese, not a native English speaker) asked me if what I was wearing was a "British skirt".

When I've been asked if I'm Irish, I've generally had the impression that the person asking is honestly unsure whether the kilt is a garment associated with the Scots or the Irish.

**The Volusianator** · 30th August 11, 11:04 PM

The entire first page of this thread is an amazing read! Kudos to Panache!

**RockyR** · 31st August 11, 05:04 AM

I will pose a question about the "are kilts Irish question"... think long and hard about this:

Is it that kilts are "now accepted as Irish as well as Scottish" OR is it that (mostly in North America) the person asking is not knowledgeable enough to know the difference and ASSUMES they're Irish b/c they don't know enough about the real history / customs of Scotland OR Ireland?

**Dale Seago** · 31st August 11, 06:06 AM

Originally Posted by RockyR

I will pose a question about the "are kilts Irish question"... think long and hard about this:

Is it that kilts are "now accepted as Irish as well as Scottish" OR is it that (mostly in North America) the person asking is not knowledgeable enough to know the difference and ASSUMES they're Irish b/c they don't know enough about the real history / customs of Scotland OR Ireland?

In my own experience it seems to have almost always been the latter.

**seanachie** · 31st August 11, 08:32 AM

Originally Posted by RockyR

I will pose a question about the "are kilts Irish question"... think long and hard about this:

Is it that kilts are "now accepted as Irish as well as Scottish" OR is it that (mostly in North America) the person asking is not knowledgeable enough to know the difference and ASSUMES they're Irish b/c they don't know enough about the real history / customs of Scotland OR Ireland?

Seemingly a simple question, with a number of variables. So someone attired in a St Patrick's Blue or Saffron kilt should be presumed to be Scot? Here is a link to a NATO website for the forces in Kosovo http://www.nato.int/kfor/media/photo...0330a-003.html Now you have bagpipes and kilts.

No I am not trying to be facetious. I have learned a lot here and through the piece Matt and Todd wrote. I don't deny any of the points, the origins or history. I don't want to upset anyone or demean anyone's personal pride, I was just raising the point that over time and evolution other cultures have included the kilt as well. I believe I said earlier, I seek to find commonality not difference amongst us. I was just sharing my experience, since it seemed to be different from others. I also think that doesn't necessarily mean you have created fictitous history though admitedly not everyone has the same levels of understanding and knows the history.

**RockyR** · 31st August 11, 08:59 AM

Originally Posted by seanachie

Seemingly a simple question, with a number of variables. So someone attired in a St Patrick's Blue or Saffron kilt should be presumed to be Scot? Here is a link to a NATO website for the forces in Kosovo http://www.nato.int/kfor/media/photo...0330a-003.html Now you have bagpipes and kilts.

No I am not trying to be facetious. I have learned a lot here and through the piece Matt and Todd wrote. I don't deny any of the points, the origins or history. I don't want to upset anyone or demean anyone's personal pride, I was just raising the point that over time and evolution other cultures have included the kilt as well. I believe I said earlier, I seek to find commonality not difference amongst us. I was just sharing my experience, since it seemed to be different from others. I also think that doesn't necessarily mean you have created fictitous history though admitedly not everyone has the same levels of understanding and knows the history.

Just to clarify, I meant my question in a purely innocent way of bringing up a point that seems to get overlooked, NOT b/c I 'took offence' to your posts (or anything like that).

An interesting point... Can something become 'accepted' as the norm (i.e. wearing a kilt to show off Irish Pride in North America) even if there are few in Ireland wearing kilts? Is it wrong? Is it just a case of 'it is what it is'? Do the Irish in Ireland think we're daft for wearing 'Irish Kilts' when they (generally) don't? Does that matter if the wearer feels a connection to the greater 'Pan Celtic Community' (to use someone else's phrase)?

I'm BY NO MEANS passing judgement on North Americans wearing Irish tartans. I have a few myself. I am just pondering aloud.

**herminator** · 31st August 11, 09:10 AM

**Andy Proffitt** · 31st August 11, 09:23 AM

Great post. I was just glad to see Panache pop up on a new post, you have been missed.

**seanachie** · 31st August 11, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by RockyR

I'm BY NO MEANS passing judgement on North Americans wearing Irish tartans. I have a few myself. I am just pondering aloud.

Funny thing you said that, and again the diversity of opinion....I do not own an Irish tartan specifically because they are not recognized by any legal Irish entity that I have discovered. (nor were they even designed in Ireland) I actually emailed the Irish culture minister about this but unfortunately this was right around the time of the last government stepping down. (PS sorry if you thought I had any concerns with your comments, not at all)