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Irish Clothing

Hand-colored copy of a 1570 watercolor by Dutch artist Lucas de Heere. from Old Irish Dress by McClintock
Hand-colored copy of a 1570 watercolor by Dutch artist Lucas de Heere. from Old Irish Dress by McClintock

Introduction:

The History of Irish Clothing (also referred to as dress or costume) is a fascinating and challenging topic interwoven with the history of Irish fabric and textiles. The following resource list was created in consultation with Dr. Kate Daly, a scholar specialized in ethnic dress and folk costume.

Books in the McKiernan Library

  • Heath, Ian.
    The Irish Wars 1485-1603. Osprey Publishing, 1993. 
    DA 935 .H43 1993

  • Hunt, John
    Irish Medieval Figure Sculpture 1200-1600: A Study of Irish Tombs With Notes on Costume and Armor, v.1. Irish University Press, 1974.
    NB 1820 .H86 1974 v.1 OVERSIZE

  • Hunt, John
    Irish Medieval Figure Sculpture 1200-1600: A Study of Irish Tombs With Notes on Costume and Armor, v.2. Irish University Press, 1974.
    NB 1820 .H86 1974 v.2 OVERSIZE
  • Joyce, Patrick Weston
    Social History of Ancient Ireland, vol. II. Phoenix Publishing Company, Ltd., 1913.
    DA 930.5 .J88 1913 v.2

  • Mahon, Brid
    Rich and Rare: The Story of Irish Dress (Celtic Ireland). Mercier Press, 2001.
    GT 806 .M34

  • McClintock, H.F.
    Handbook of the traditional old Irish dress, With suggestions for designing an Irish uniform or national dress for Irish men on historic lines. Dundalgan Press, 1958.
    GT 772 .M28 1958
  • McClintock, H.F.
    Old Irish dress and that of the Isle of Man. Dundalgan Press, 1950.
    GT 770 .M34 1950
  • McClintock, H.F.
    Old Irish and Highland Dress and that of the Isle of Man. Dungalgan Press, 1950.
    GT 772 .M335 1950
  • Mitchell, Lillias.
    The Wonderful Work of the Weaver. [John Augustine], [1972].
    TT 848 .M57 1972 RARE

Online sources

  • Traditional Irish Clothing.
    https://clanmcgrath.org/traditional-clothing/
    NOTE: Describes Irish clothing/Irish language and sumptuary laws. The author references how saffron colored clothes were outlawed in the 16th century by the English. However why did the English use an Arabic and Indian term vs either an English or the Irish term?