Whenever we talk about tartan kilts, two countries immediately come to mind: Ireland and Scotland. Ireland dominates the tartan kilt following Scotland which is why we often see some differences from their accessories to events. Irish kilts are usually wearable on formal occasions only. It means they are not everyday wear, unlike Scottish kilts. This article aims to tell you about occasions to wear Irish kilts. So, let us move to the topic.
Irish Weddings
Irish tartan kilts are common to witness at their weddings. People at this special event usually wear their regional tartan with a few accessories.
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- Brian Baru Jacket is the most common jacket to be worn with Irish kilts.
- When it comes to shirts, Irish people usually wear plain white shirts with black or tartan matching ties.
- The following attachment is sporran which comes with a Celtic design or Shamrock Motif.
- Ghillies Brogues with plain hose are also an important part of Irish dress at weddings.
- They attach a leather belt with a buckle having a Shamrock emblem at the crest.
Black Tie Events
Many black-tie events annually take place in Ireland. These events without a doubt are the parts of formal occasions. A few examples of such occasions are galas, award ceremonies, formal dinners, etc. Therefore, Scots are usually seen wearing their traditional yet specific attire. Along with their identical tartan kilts, they wear:
- Traditional Brian Baru Jacket.
- Plain white shirt with a black bow tie.
- Traditional leather sporran or those made with animal hair.
- Cultural kilt shoes are known as ghillie brogues.
Cultural Festivals
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Several cultural festivals yearly take place in Ireland where Irish people wear their specified tartan kilts as a necessity. The number of festivals is quite high, if we particularly talk about some famous ones, they are St. Patrick’s Day, Highland Games, Galway International Art Festival, and many more. Wearing a kilt only is never enough, so they ensure dressing them in:
- They pair their kilts with kilt pins as tradition.
- Sporran is also a significant part designed with Celtic or identical Shamrock design.
- Jackets have two popular options. They wear Brian Boru, the traditional one, or Kilkenny jacket which usually has saffron or olive green shade.
- Shoes can also vary from ghillie brogues to any formal boots.
Military Parades
Military parades are not a common tradition of Irish people but occur on specific days like Saint Patrick’s Day, National Day of Commemoration, etc. This practice is common in the Northern part of Ireland, particularly areas that are connected with the Orange Border. The list of attachments along with kilts is given below:
- Any jacket from Kilkenny or Brian Boru.
- Traditional shoes they have been wearing for a long time.
- They attach sporrans as well as kilt pins with traditional crests.
- The shirt can be anything from plain white to one with different colors.
Clan Gatherings
Clan Gatherings -
A clan gathering is an important event held after a specific time in Ireland. In these gatherings, people with a similar Irish surname or those sharing the same clans come together for the celebration of their heritage, ancestry, and cultural traditions.
These events include historical tours, music, food, and family reunions. In short, it is a common practice in Ireland to have gatherings for different clans across the country. Here are the details of their attire:
- They can wear any kilt from their regional tartan to plain-colored in saffron or green which represent their tradition.
- Wearers secure their kilts with leather belts plus buckles with crests having a shamrock Motif.
- Kilt pins and sporrans are a must to wear with kilts having a traditional flair as well.
- Ghillie brogues or any formal shoes are common to spot but the color always matches with tartan.
Music Festivals
The inclusion of the word “festival” in the name reveals that musical festivals are formal occasions there in Ireland. A large number of festivals are held every year where people from other countries participate as singers, band members, and audience. If we talk about a few of them, they are Electric Picnic, the Macroom Mountain Dew Festival, and the Cork Jazz Festival. Moreover, seeing Irish tartan is common with the following accessories:
- Irish people wear tartan kilts with bold colors. In other words, regional tartan is not necessary.
- Any shirt from fitting T-shirts or down-buttoned shirts is easy to spot there.
- Kilkenny jackets are worn often instead of Brian Boru.
- Kilts pins and sporran with traditional crests are also easy to find.
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