I belong to an Irish-American Catholic men’s fraternal organization. Some of the fellows got it into their heads that they wanted to get “Irish kilts”.
Is there really such a thing? Did or do the Irish actually wear kilts?
Would they look like complete fools if they showed up on your shores wearing kilts?
or… is this just another example of americans mixing up scottish and irish heritage?
Jeff
Jeff, I’d take a careful look at those guys who wanna get you into a skirt.
oh, I put my foot down, I’m not wearing one.
Yes, the Irish do have kilts–and may have at some point in the distant past–although the current trend of wearing them dates back to the Gaelic League in the late 19th Century trying to revive “traditional” Irish culture by mostly making it up as they went along.
There are a handful of Irish tartans, but these are also recently made-up bits of “tradition” (then again, the same could be said for the vast majority of Scottish tartans…). Most Irish people who wear kilts wear plain-colored ones such as green or saffron.
Some hoity-toity boys’ schools in Ireland require kilts as part of the uniform. You also see Irish pipe bands wearing them…
If you and the boys are really serious about this, approach with great care: this is business best left to professionals.
There is a lot of grey area there - but most accounts don’t include any mention of the Irish in kilts. That being said, there are official plaids for the country, and for each county - official as of something like 1996 if memory serves.
I’ve actually got a great kilt (yep - just 9 yards of heavy wool give or take) that I’ve worn out on occasion in the Irish national tartan. It generally serves as a really nice bead spred most of the time now however. 
The tartan worn there is the “Irish National”
Irish tartan does exist. A few years back my sister married a Scot. He and his family wore the family tartan. My brother, in a fit of drunken exuberance, suggested that we kit ourselves out in Irish tartan in order to (quote by brother) “show the Jocks that Irish legs are every bit as good-looking”. Anyway, upon sobering up, we all decided that it would probably not be in the best of taste if we got kilts. Also, we found out how much it would cost to rent.
I like what my boyfriend wears under his kilt.
Shoes?
Lipstick?
Hi Anima
A piper in full formal Irish kilt outfit looks quite good actually. Maybe Uilliam can post a picture of himself in full gear with the pipes.
The funny thing is that it can actually make the pipes sound nicer, especially if you have drones going. We noticed that one day at the piper’s club when Uilliam turned up in full gear after busking at the celtic game (soccer that is). After a bit of experimentation by Jim then we found that, to our ears at least, the pipes sounded better if you had a piper’s friend that was big enough to drape over both legs a la kilt. We reckoned that it was the kilt/piper’s friend reflecting (or maybe focusing)more of the sound forward.
Try it and see.
David
I like the answer:
piper: “Depends”
tourist: “Depends? It depends upon what?”
piper: “Depends! I’m incontinent!”
Davey happy to oblige…
Click on the images to enlarge.
Left to right.
a)Cork Pipers circa 1920. b) Enniskillings Pipers (My Grandfather was a Piper with them).
The oldest recorded plaid was found in Ulster .
The modern kilt is a bit of a fantasy with clann tartans etc.pure fiction inspired by Walter Scott.They wore whatever plaid was being woven locally and most were a dull colour,wot they call"Ancient" in todays marketing jargon. :roll:
The national kilt is saffron chosen because it was a colour much beloved for religous reasons by the ancient Irish and much commented on by the Elizabethans who disdained the Irish mode of dress.
The belted plaid or feileadh mhor was the original as worn? by Brian in his photie..the modern small kilt, feileadh beag was an invention of an English man John Smith who was too hot wearing and working in the Mhor so he cut it down and it became the kilt we know today… the little rascal..
Anima your fraternity are as entitled as anyone else on this planet to wear whatever they like.I would suggest that ye refrain frae calling them skirts tho as ye will cause great offence to many who wear a very taditional form of attire 
Slán Go Foill
Uilliam
PS I think Davey was referring to the chanter playing into the kilt which certainly did act as a big pipers apron.The drones not so..I would have to be a very odd shape for that to happen!! 
I would definitely go for the kilts, anima.
These photos are really interesting.
Duly noted, and thread name changed.
Jeff
I am trying to come up with regalia to wear when I play on stage with a step dance school. My problems are that I want to look distinctly Irish and I am a woman. Any ideas?
Hi Baglady
I don’t know if it would work, but maybe formal highland attire for a lady might suit. Replace the tartan sash with one in the saffron colour of the irish kilt.
David
The costume of Irish step dancers is fairly easy to find. Search google images for irish step dancer and you’ll find lots of images.
Step dancing (not the Riverdance variety) is one of the few occasions in which you’ll see Irish men/boys wearing kilts.
I’ve always wanted meself a highland uniform, always thought those look real neat.
Oh, hm, might be of topic now, sorry.
Brian Boru old guard regalia ought to work.