Sightings "in the wild"

[johnb]

I'm just back from a three day break in Edinburgh. Whilst I suspected that sightings of men wearing kilts would be limited, I didn't realize how few sightings there would be. I just saw two pipers, both busking in different places, and one man working in a gift shop and that was it. I suspect that anyone wearing a kilt in the street there would attract some attention from tourists on the lookout for a photo.

John

[skirtingtoday]

Yes - coming from Edinburgh (where I live and work - the former on the outskirts and the latter in the heart of the town), there are disappointing numbers of kilt wearers and most of them are near the castle or busking. Other than that, anyone wearing a kilt would be having a "special" occasion (wedding etc) There are some people I see around once a week also in kilts and not all the "traditional" tartan either but you must have missed them.

Next time you visit here, send me a PM and we could meet up if you wish and if you have time. And I will wear a skirt for the occasion!

BTW - I was at Lockerbie this morning and I saw one man in a kilt and short hiking sox and boots so another sighting for the forum.

[pleated]

A few sightings here in Dublin over the past two days. Might have something to do with the rugby match tomorrow between Ireland and Scotland.
First sighting was at lunchtime Thursday. I was on a bus going down O'Connell Street at lunchtime. We passed a man in his thirties or early forties wearing a mostly green tartan kilt. he had a dark green jacket, fawn coloured socks and a small haversack over one shoulder.
Friday evening about 6.30 just after I got off another bus in O'Connell Street I almost bumped into a group of about eight kilted men in their twenties and thirties who were carrying various bits of luggage. They were wearing a range of different tartans. They looked like they had just arrived in the city and were looking for their hotel. They appeared to be coming from the direction of either the rail or bus station a few minutes walk away.
About 7.30pm I saw another two kilted men in their thirties or early forties walking up O'Connell Street also carrying luggage but it was too dark to see the colour of their tartans from where I was.

[Kirbstone]

Don't think sightings are confined to Dublin this weekend. This evening in Naas, 20 miles from Dublin there were literally scores of kilted young men enjoying the Black wine of this Country. I expect they know that our local pubs are less crowded than those in Dublin.
Goodness knows what tartans they were wearing, but the selection is varied, to say the least. More power to them. If I was 40-50 years younger I'd kilt up and join them!

Tom K.

[crfriend]

Two observations:

1) You're only as old as you feel, and

2) "Scores of kilted lads"? For the win!!!

[pleated]

According to this report in the Irish Times they were wearing "tartan skirts". The article uses the term "tartan skirts" twice. No mention of kilts though.

"Scottish fans can hardly be missed, with the majority of them wearing tartan skirts."
The Irish Times - Saturday, March 10, 2012
Tartan army travelling more in hope than expectation for Celtic showdown
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ire ... 07307.html

[skirtyscot]

Not so long ago that would have irked me. "Tartan skirt, indeed! Hasn't he ever heard of the kilt?" But now I'm all for it - a kilt is a skirt, and the more people say that, the better.

Man, we're hopeless at rugby! Played 4, lost 4.

[STEVIE]

S.S.
Absolutely agree, kilt is a skirt, but how many of our countrymen would be dragged kicking and screaming to acknowledge that simple fact?
Steve.

[crfriend]

Absolutely agree, kilt is a skirt [...]

I would like to politely disagree with this. I do so not because of the factual matter contained in the statement, but rather that the kilt has a "brand recognition" to it that sets it apart from other skirts (also see the Greek fustanella) and that does make it special.

In this rather complex world that we're trying to navigate in, I feel that it makes no sense to needlessly antagonise the guys who wear kilts exclusively and take the matter seriously. We need friends and allies, not enemies made by virtue of idioms. It's worth noting that there are very few traditional kilt-wearers left here, and I think that we're poorer as a community for that.

[skirtyscot]

But those guys who have upped sticks and gone off to an exclusively kilty website, did they go because they felt they were being marginalised, or because they were the ones who thought the distinction between a kilt and a skirt was so important?

[crfriend]

Note to readers: I am writing this as an individual contributor, not as one of the "honchos".

But those guys who have upped sticks and gone off to an exclusively kilty website, did they go because they felt they were being marginalised, or because they were the ones who thought the distinction between a kilt and a skirt was so important?

I cannot say, as I do not have a direct path into their minds, but I have noticed a shift in the leaning of this site over the past few years, and this saddens me. The original focus of the predecessor site to this, Tom's Cafe, was very much a "large tent" venture. There were a few ruptures in the nature of things over time, mainly the entire "bravehearts versus freestylers" war, but somehow it held together. That said, I am not entirely unhappy with the way things are going a it seems that there is interest remaining, but to lose the contributions of "the original non-trousered community" strikes me as sad.

That having been said, we are striking off in an entirely new direction -- a direction that's freed from the hide-bound rules of the traditional kilt, and I think that this is interesting and shows a wealth of possibilities. (Recall that I have in the past railled about the "Rules and Regulations" about The Wearing Of The Kilt.) Let's see where it goes.

[mugman]

I'm just back from a three day break in Edinburgh. Whilst I suspected that sightings of men wearing kilts would be limited, I didn't realize how few sightings there would be. I just saw two pipers, both busking in different places, and one man working in a gift shop and that was it. I suspect that anyone wearing a kilt in the street there would attract some attention from tourists on the lookout for a photo.

I'm off to Scotland in a few weeks time and was wondering if I wore a kilt it would look unusual. Judging by your observations johnb, it will be. You didn't say if you were wearing one though. Would that bump the score up to four ?

[floatingmetal]

According to this report in the Irish Times they were wearing "tartan skirts". The article uses the term "tartan skirts" twice. No mention of kilts though.

On the other hand, this is the Irish Times talking about the Scottish i.e. opposition team. They might have been using a bit of headology ("we wear kilts, they wear skirts"), deliberately using the word skirt rather than kilt for slightly mischievous team rivalry reasons...

[skirtingtoday]

I'm off to Scotland in a few weeks time and was wondering if I wore a kilt it would look unusual. Judging by your observations johnb, it will be. You didn't say if you were wearing one though. Would that bump the score up to four ?

Yes, even in Scotland's capital, a kilt is unusual - but very welcome! I live and work in Edinburgh so I do see kilts occasionally - much more common during the Rugby internationals - (No more to be said on that matter - what a disaster! A wooden spoon! )
If you are in Edinburgh, I might see you around - have a great time, anyway! PM me if you want to meet for a pint after work!

[mugman]

Unfortunately Edinburgh isn't on the itinerary. But maybe some other time. The pint was a nice thought though skirtingtoday.