First post with a big question

[Ward]

Hello to all. This is my first posting. I am not Scottish. I am of Irish ancestry. Counties Donegal and Galway. A very close friend of mine and a member of this website, have been having a lot of discussions and doing lots of research about the Irish and kilts. I know traditionally the Irish did not wear kilts but it seems to be very common to associate the Irish with wearing kilts, too. Is this just an American thing or a marketing stunt? I would love to join my Scottish brothers around town and events wearing a Irish tartan kilt which I also know are not traditional, but I also don't want to look like an idiot either. You know, "Look at that dork with the Irish kilt. The Irish don't even wear kilts". Or should I just say the heck with it, be myself and say I'm not Scottish but I like to wear kilts and I'm Irish so I thought it made sense to wear Irish colors. Anyway we're all of Celtic descent anyways, right? Let me know your opinion. What do the Scottish have to say about this?

[Bugbear]

Welcome.

[McMurdo]

Well I'm not Scottish, but I say go ahead and get an Irish kilt, BTW most of them have seen developed by enterprising Scots, there is a Donegal Tartan as well as a bunch of others. Bottom line you don't need to be Scottish to wear a kilt.

[Balaamsass51]

So who will know it's an Irish fashion tartan unless you tell them? And some will think you'll look silly in a kilt anyway, but they are really jealous.

Go with what you like. If there is some connection, all the better.

Welcome aboard.

Matt H.

[wyldathart]

Wear what you like. Even if I wasn't of Scottish decent I'd still wear a kilt. Have it man

[SFCRick]

Welcome, just wear it. Here in Hawaii we have Chinese, Filipino, Samoan, Hawaiian, Japenese and yes, even some Irish that sport the Kilt at our parades, Highland games ,pub crawls , Burns night & other dress balls. No one makes fun of them, All are welcome.

[cavscout]

Honestly, most people aren't knowledgeable enough to know the difference in a Irish County tartan and a Scottish Clan tartan. Not that they will let that stop them from commenting either way They'll assume you're Scottish if they associate kilts with Scotland or they'll assume you are Irish if they associate kilts with Ireland. Jus tplease yourself and have a sense of humor

[SteveB]

Hello and a warm Celtic from Boston, Massachusetts.
Wear whatever you want! The avatar is me in the Irish National tartan. Wear the kilt because it is a real man's garment. Most of the time you will receive favourable comment. The only negative ones are from those jealous of you for all the chicks that it attracts.

I also have a House of Edgar kilt in the County Donegal tartan (spouse's heritage), it is handsome and gets only favourable comment.

Kilt on.

[GDub]

I'm of Irish/Icelandic decent. I wear mostly "Irish" tartans and contemporaries (UK, AK...). I do have a couple of clan tartans, but I've decided to keep it to Irish and "fashion" tartans for my next purchases. Just a choice thing...

Oh, and welcome from the San Francisco Bay Area!

[Mael Coluim]

from the Old Dominion State!

I am of Scottish ancestry via the North of Ireland if my Family Tree DNA analysis can be believed. I wear fashion tartans of two of the Patron Saints of Ireland; St. Patrick and St. Columba.

St. Patrick tartan



St. Columba tartan