Irish Kilts and Tartans

[Radge]

He defeated the Scots under Monro at Benburb in County Tyrone in 1646. Which was their only significant victory against a foe who hadn't eaten for days and had poorer pikes. Other Scots such as Alasdair MacColla MacDonald and his Highland Redshanks did sterling work for their fellow co-religionists in the Irish Confederate forces, after having done previous quality work against the Covenanters (esp. the Campbells) in Scotland. Alas they were wasted under the command of the incompotent Lord Taafe resulting in a Confederate defeat at Knocknanuss by Pro-English Parliamentarian forces under Murrough O'Brien, Lord Inchiquin. Which would have happened quicker hadn't the Redshanks been on hand.

About O'Neill sporting the Caubeen, aparently it wasn't a common type of headgear worn locally and may have come about by his adoption of headwear similar to that worn by the MacDonnell's of Antrim. Scots Bonnets. The 'Caubeen' shown in mid 19th century sketches and Edwardian cartoons seems to look more like a squashed top hat to me.

[macwilkin]

Is an item only "official" or "traditional" if and when it is adopted by the UK military?

Some of the Irish that fought in the American revolution were rumored to have worn them. I will look for picture if I must. In addition the throng of Irish that arrived in the USA during the potato famine 1845 and 1852 worn them as well. Not to use Hollywood as a source of truth, but in gangs of Gangs of New Your you can see the caubeen worn by the Irish.

If it must go back to a military source, in 1641 Owen Roe O'Neill lead the Irish Confederate Forces against those of Charles I. In painting of him and the battle he is wearing what resembles a Caubeen. Image Here. Owen Roe (the red haired) O Neill (1590-1649), a nephew of the great Hugh O Neill, Earl of Tyrone, was a professional soldier who had served thirty years in the Spanish army. He returned to Ireland and, in 1642, joined the new movement styled the Confederate Catholics of Ireland. He defeated the Scots under Monro at Benburb in County Tyrone in 1646. The O'Neills were one of the 7 major Ulster clan of which the Owen clan spun off (County Tyrone is the historical land that was named after them) The O'Cathan Clan were chieftains in the Owen Clan.

We won't get into the problems of using Gangs of New York as a source. Do you have any legitimate scholarly resources, primary or secondary sources?

Note your use of the word "rumoured" -- I can't say I've ever seen any documentation of caubeens being worn by the Continental Line in the Revolution. Again, I'd love to see a source. I'll be happy to query a friend of mine who is a member of the Company of Military Historians for his opinion.

I'd also like to see what the noted expert on Irish dress, H.F. McClintock, has to say about the caubeen of Owen Roe O'Neill.

T.

[slohairt]

It would be interesting to discover any ancient origins of the caubeen beyond what we already surmise; that is was simply adapted from the Scottish balmoral/blue bonnet. Both the blue bonnet and the caubeen are certainly not unique designs. They both resemble the shapeless hats which everyone in western Europe wore at one time. Given that the Highlands and Ireland were a wee bit behind the times, it's not unreasonable to suggest that they were just a continuation of a style that had long since vanished almost everywhere else.

Unfortunately old Irish woodcuts aren't much help as they don't appear to show the native Irish wearing hats of any kind, except for the odd helmet here and there. The theme of contempt for the native Irish is strong in most of these illustrations, that it wouldn't surprise me if the Irish were made to appear poorer than they really were.

[auld argonian]

Let's not forget that paintings or illustrations may be done years after an event or may be based on the artist's reading of an account of event. In either case, the work will almost certainly be filtered through the artist's own frame of reference rather than an accurate depiction of the event or the persons involved.

Best

AA

[macwilkin]

About O'Neill sporting the Caubeen, aparently it wasn't a common type of headgear worn locally and may have come about by his adoption of headwear similar to that worn by the MacDonnell's of Antrim. Scots Bonnets. The 'Caubeen' shown in mid 19th century sketches and Edwardian cartoons seems to look more like a squashed top hat to me.

Thank you for bringing up the point that a "caubeen" may also refer to a hat with a brim; hence in the famous song The Wearing of the Green, the line about "I will change the colour that I wear in my caubeen."

To answer a comment that Mr. Shoe made earlier, in the case of this particular article, the British Army is the issue here, as the caubeens we were discussing were issued by the British Army to the pipers of the Irish regiments. So far, I can't say I have ever seen any source stating that the caubeens were based on O'Neill's headgear. One would think, if there was such a connection, that the various Irish nationalists who adopted the kilt would have picked up on it; hence the Irish Citizen Army would have worn them instead of Boer style slouch hats.

To add further confusion, the "caubeen" of the Irish Defence Forces is called a "glengarry", which is entirely different cap in Scottish circles.

T.

[ABG0819]

I am of the opinion that we must remember that the Scots and the Irish are both descended from the same Celtic stock. Therefore we are all brethren and the petty squabbles about whether the kilt is Scottish or Irish is insignificant. Furthermore our conversation once again proves the greatness of the modern political world. As an American first I see it as my choice to wear a kilt or blue jeans or a suit everyday. I wear a kilt to honor part of my heritage, and blue jeans to honor another part of my heritage.

The thought that only highland born Scots are entitled to wear a kilt is as silly as saying that only persons born the the great state of Texas are entitled to wear blue jeans. Both statements are silly to the nth degree. I would never take it as an insult to my American identity that someone from Scotland, Iceland, or Japan chose to wear blue jeans. The same should be true for those who had the honor of being born the highlands of Scotland.

Why can't we all just get along and agree that the kilt may be the most perfect garment ever created for men.

All of this is my humble opinion and please take it with a grain of salt...unless you have high blood pressure, then feel free to use a salt substitute...Thank you and have a nice day.

And of course thank you to the gentlemen who obviously spent many hours researching and writing a wonderful article on the most perfect garment ever created for men. Wonderful job gentlemen.

Graham

[The Thing]

By the way, great article and well researched.
I have a book intitled "The Irish Regiments" 1683-1999, in which an article concerning the dress of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Pipers, the article would seem to suggest that the Inniskillings were the first to adopt a Kilt of non tartan type or Saffron on or around 7 July 1910. I would assume from the article that prior to this occassion that tartan kilts were worn...!

[jordanjm]

Nice article.

Qustion...

In my many wanderings I have encountered clothing referred to as the lein, which I take to be a long tunic type shirt with big sleeves possibly. I have also read about the brat. Is this where the confusion comes from? From what I have read the brat was a big blanket, like the belted plaid. I have read that these were worn by both the Irish and Highland Scots. Is this true? Did the belted plaid evolve out of the said garment?

[Scotus]

Why can't we all just get along and agree that the kilt may be the most perfect garment ever created for men.

Actually, I don't agree that it's the most perfect garment ever created for men.*

Anyway, you seem to say their article doesn't really matter because the Scots and Irish are related; however, then you say that it's a wonderful article. I know that's probably not what you meant, but that's how it comes across. Real history, even about something as minor as the kilt, matters and is important.

Again, this article does a great service in advancing our knowledge of the true history and origins of the kilt.

*Many wear it because it's the national dress of Scotland and not based on it being the most "perfect," or most comfortable, or any reason other than that it is Scottish.

[Detroitpete]

GREAT article gentleman! I did notice ONE thing I MIGHT change..."One of the most famous and well-preserved examples is the Dungiven outfit, found near Londonderry in 1956."

Do you mean Derry, perchance?

Please just a friendly nudge here--no malice implied. Really appreciate your hard work on this.