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
leine and brat worn by kings in symbolic ways until about 1000 meanwhile shorter tunics were also being worn for practical purposes
coathardies in the 14th C (eg Moy bog gown)
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.
references
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.
