Editing Kilt (section)

=== Ireland ===
[[File:Irish Army Pipe Band.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Irish Defence Force]] pipers wearing saffron kilts]]

Though the origins of the Irish kilt continue to be a subject of debate, current evidence suggests that kilts originated in the [[Scottish Highlands]] and [[Scottish Islands|Isles]] and were worn by Irish nationalists from at least 1850s onwards and then cemented from the early 1900s as a symbol of Gaelic identity.<ref name="scottishtartans1">{{cite web |first=Matthew Allen C |last=Newsome |url=http://scottishtartans.org/education/irish_kilt.php |title=Hibernean Dress, Caledonian Custom |work=Scottish Tartans Museum |location=Franklin, NC |publisher=The Scottish Tartans Museum |year=2010 |access-date=15 March 2017 |archive-date=16 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316115326/http://scottishtartans.org/education/irish_kilt.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>

A garment that has often been mistaken for kilts in early depictions is the Irish {{lang|ga|[[léine]] croich}} ('saffron shirt'), a long tunic traditionally made from yellow cloth, but also found in other solid colours (e.g. black, green, red, or brown), or striped. Solid-coloured kilts were first adopted for use by Irish nationalists and thereafter by Irish regiments serving in the British Army, but they could often be seen in late 19th and early 20th century photos in Ireland especially at political and musical gatherings, as the kilt was re-adopted as a symbol of Gaelic nationalism in Ireland during this period.<ref name="scottishtartans1" /> Tartan was rarer in Irish kilts, as it was more expensive to manufacture. For the most part it was usually only used for sashes, trews and shawls. Wealthy Irish such as the Gaelic chieftains and high-ranking soldiers could afford tartan kilts.

Within the world of Irish dancing, boys' kilts have been largely abandoned, especially since the worldwide popularity of [[Riverdance]] and the revival and interest in Irish dancing generally.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://histclo.com/act/dance/danceir.html |title=Irish Step Dancing Costumes |publisher=Historical Boys Clothing |access-date=25 July 2009}}</ref>

The Irish still wear kilts but they are largely restricted to formal events and weddings. Irish marching bands often dress in kilts as well.