The Male Irish Dance Costume

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The Male Irish Dance Costume

Up until the twentieth century there is very little evidence of a distinct Irish dance costume. This was because Ireland was under British rule and all things Irish was being suppressed, especially from the eighteenth to the nineteenth century. You may have to guess at what the male Irish dancer wore in the time period. It has been suggested that they just wore their “Sunday best”. This consisted of male clothing of the period which was a waistcoat, shirtsleeves, knee breeches, white stockings and turn-pumps.

That was pretty much the male Irish dance costume from the eighteenth century, when the Irish dance you know today had its beginnings, to the start of the twentieth century.

Change came about in the beginning of the twentieth century because of the Gaelic League. Formed in 1893 the League began to promote Irish culture and had a strong influence on the dance costumes you know today.

Knee Breeches

These were still popular with male Irish dancers up to the 1920’s and 1930’s. Knee breeches were imported from England from the eighteenth century up to this time when they began to fall out of favor. I think this was because of Ireland’s newly won independence and now the Irish were trying to do away with all things English. They were trying to re-establish their own Irish culture and traditions.

Couple Dance an Irish Jig on the Village Green

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The Kilt

The start of the twentieth century saw the Irish kilt as accepted dress for those involved in the new Gaelic movement. The kilt helped Ireland to express a national identity. This transferred over to Irish dance as well.

The kilt was worn daily by members of the Gaelic League. It became part of the male school uniform at St. Enda’s College in 1908. The student’s wore the kilt while at their lessons and while dancing which was part of the curriculum.

In the early 1920’s the kilt was made part of Lily Comerford’s dance school male Irish dance costume. Lily was a well know dance instructor from Dublin.

1924 at the Tailteann Games in Dublin was the first time many dancers from around Ireland saw the kilt used for dance school uniforms. By the 1930’s almost all male Irish dancers in Ireland wore a kilt and Irish tweed jacket. The most popular colors for a kilt were saffron and green. It was considered a requirement to wear a kilt in competitions. Not wearing one was unheard of, because if they didn’t they had no chance of winning. This went on for about seventy years.

The Aran Sweater

For a short time in 1950’s and 1960’s the heavy Aran sweater was used in Irish dance. They also wore a knitted cap and Aran crios (tied belt). This gave the dancers a traditional Irish look. They were used mostly for team and ceili dancing. But, as you might have guessed, they fell out of favor because it was just too darn hot to dance around in a sweater. I break out in a sweat just thinking about it.

Today's Male Irish Dance Costume

The kilt is still sometimes used in Irish dance. Now days it can be of almost any color usually worn with matching socks and a tie with a contrasting jacket.

With the arrival of Riverdance in 1994 came the black trousers. Most male dancers now wear the black trousers and a blouse-type shirt. It’s just a very simple outfit. I’ve even seen them wear black pants and a tee shirt for the shows but not in competition.

I think the trousers are a good thing. It might help to get more boys interested in Irish dance. The kilt may have turned some off from learning to dance and actually competing. This is just my opinion.

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