Irish Clothing

Our knowledge about medieval irish costume is rather scanty, because there is little surviving evidence for irish costume, and what survives is fairly controversial. Anyone wanting to reconstruct irish costume will have to be prepared to do a lot more research and experimentation than for other periods/localities, especially for earier periods where information is very scanty.

Irish costume through time

overviews:

• reconstructinghistory - irish - a very comprehensive and well researched site of mediaeval irish costume
• an overview

Early period c0-1000AD

leine and brat worn by kings in symbolic ways until about 1000 meanwhile shorter tunics were also being worn for practical purposes

references:

• Henry, Francoise, 1965, "Irish art in the early Christian period, (to 800 A.D.)"
• Henry, Francoise, 1967, "Irish art during the Viking invasions, 800-1020 ad"

Norman era Ireland 1100-1200

Statuary still shows legendary kings in the Leine and Brat, however this may be well out of fashion and just used to show the figures as legendary kings.

Other statues depict garments which could be t-tunics (or belted up brats), and also some appear to show priestly garb, similar to english priestly garb or this era. Women appear rarely in statuary. Much more research is needed into this period, but results may be inconclusive due to unclear depictions and the small quantity of evidence.

references:

• Henry, Francoise, 1970,"Irish art in the Romanesque period (1020-1170 A.D.)"

1200-1400

coathardies in the 14th Century (eg Moy bog gown)

references:

1400-1600

Throughout most of this period, It also appears that some irish were wearing clothing based on the fashions in england, rather than based on traditional irish construction.

extant garments

There are very few medieval irish costumes which have survived to the modern day. Those known are:

women's garments

• moy bog gown 14th - 17th Century
  • http://www.reconstructinghistory.com/irish/moy.html
  • http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-carlson/cloth/moy.html
  • http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-carlson/cloth/moy3.html
• shinrone gown - late 16th or early 17th Century
  • http://www.reconstructinghistory.com/irish/shinrone.html

men's garments

• Dungiven Jacket - late 16th Century
  • http://www.reconstructinghistory.com/irish/dungiven.html
• Kilcommon Costume - late 16th or early 17th Century
  • http://www.reconstructinghistory.com/irish/kilcommon.html

construction details

There are few good sources which will tell you how to

Beware of sites which use drawstrings, tartans.

A few sites dealing with reconstucting the above extant garments are listed under the above extant garments, however such instructions are generally more like guidelines and tips for experienced sewers and pattern makers.

Reconstructing History also will be offering patterns for late period irish garb in early 2004 through [1]. Given their excellent reputation for research and interpretation, these patterns will probably be invaluable and good value for the price.