Kilts/skirts in Ireland

[Deedee_tv]

I am taking a 2 week trip to Ireland this summer with friends. Although I am normally more of a femme male (wearing mostly womens jeans, shorts, cropped pants, etc), I wonder if it is at all appropriate to have and wear a kilt while in south west Ireland - County Kerry, near the coast.

Any help is appreciated Deedee

[Bob]

I visited there, didn't see any kilts. But hey, kilts are appropriate everywhere!

[MtnBiker]

My wife & I vacation there in 2004 and I wore a kilt (traditional wool, as well as a canvas Amerikilt) most days and got only positive feedback.

[Departed Member]

I regularly used to travel throughout the length & breadth of Ireland between 1989 & 2000. I saw Kilts only on (extremely) rare occasions, invariably worn by a piper in a formal setting (more likely in Northern Ireland). The only others were on Scottish Football (or Rugby) fans, when an International was being played - don't recall seeing any "Irish" Kilts at these events, though. The connection between the above examples is that in Ireland, they're only worn to/at/from special events. (Things may be changing, nowadays, as (casual) Kilt-wearing seems to be gaining momentum throughout the British Isles!)

The Irish people, as a whole, are much less judgmental of other folk, more open in fact, than in many other countries. I cannot see you'll have any (people) problems wearing a Kilt, even in the more remote parts! I've even worn a short(ish) black skirt (with black opaque tights & boots!) in Dublin, totally 'un-noticed', apart from one gent who kindly informed me, "You're wearing a skirt!". I smiled, said "I know!", and carried on my way!

[DavidsSkirts]

- you don't have to be oirish to be oirish ...

from a cultural viewpoint, the Irish like to brag that they invented the Kilt and the Bagpipes, and then inflicted them on the Scot's..

- one day I want to visit there, as around half my ancestors came from there.

[cessna152towser]

I suspect Dublin would be more cosmopolitan but my only experience of Eire was flying to Waterford on a day trip last summer. I was wearing a smart pair of knee length golf shorts teamed with matching kilt hose which in Britain on a warm summer's day, worn by an older man like myself, doesn't usually draw any attention. However in Waterford several people stopped me and asked me why I was thus attired; one asked if I was a referee; another asked if I was off to play rugby. All in a friendly way and certainly no hostility but I was amazed that my shorts drew such attention. And I don't recall seeing anyone else wearing shorts or a kilt all day. The people there were very pleasant and friendly but seemed very limited in their choice of clothing.