How do I Find Information on What Traditional Clothes the Irish Culture Wore?
Irish costume is not as well documented as English costume, and there are stretches of time in which there are no physical clothing references at all, save for artifacts and manuscripts for garb illustration, such as The Book of Kells. Records before the Dark Ages are scarce–perhaps life was not often recorded in Ireland prior to the fifth century, or commonly worn linen garments were destroyed by Ireland’s wet and far-reaching acidic peat bogs. Check the work of Irish historians to understand the culture, technology and economy of ancient Ireland to put period garments into context. A good starting point is the work of Irish historian and member of the Royal Irish Academy, P.W. Joyce, in his 1908 book, “A Smaller Social History of Ancient Ireland.” Joyce identifies wool and linen as the common textiles and includes the usage of silk and satin for upper classes and army banners. Garments were dyed bright colors and indicated class or rank: “a slave was to be dressed in clothes of one
