Scottish shillelagh
They were cut on the bias - on the cross - so that they had a certain amount of elasticity and clung to the legs. They were always made of tartan and great ingenuity was used in their manufacture. Trews could be trimmed with leather, usually buckskin, especially on the inner leg to prevent wear from riding on horseback. Trews (Truis or Triubhas) are men's clothing for the legs and lower abdomen, a traditional form of tartan trousers. The pin should be applied vertically (or on a slight angle) at the base of the kilt flap (approximately at the end of your fingertips, when standing). In this way the kilt pin matches the formality of the dress and occasion.
Whereas a more ornate pin would be appropriate for formal day wear, and a silver pin with a stone set in it would be expected for evening wear. This or a blanket pin is suggested for sports dress. The simplest style of pin is a large safety pin. Kilt pins come in different style and are appropriate for different occasions. Money spent here was also for practical reasons as if a clansman died, the silver accessories on their dress would cover the cost of a decent burial. Therefore, ornamentation, such as kilt pins, were very important.Įven those who were less well-off spent lavishly on these accessories which were ornate and had precious and semi-precious stones set in them. Charles Thompson writes that Queen Victoria brought in rules stating that all military kilts must have a fastening, and although the soldiers then wore kilt pins, they didn't fasten the layers of cloth with them as that would change the way the kilt hungįor Highlanders, their dress provided them with an opportunity to display as much wealth as they could afford. The story goes that the Queen gave her own brooch to a soldier who was struggling with his kilt in windy conditions.Īuthor J. We are a Celtic Pub Band.The custom of wearing a pin came in during Queen Victoria's reign to stop the kilt apron flapping about and showing more anatomy than she liked. We often throw in a few songs from the sea and from places where the Irish immigrated, and we add new material on an ongoing basis, often by request.
Our repertoire includes traditional Irish and Scottish ballads and songs, jigs and reels and other Celtic tunes for dancing, and covers of the music of modern Irish artists such as Christy Moore. Patrick's Day activities, Scottish Festivals and Renaissance Faires, providing stage entertainment and dance music in the Celtic style. A very short while later at Global Oklahoma (an international music and dance festival held annually at Rose State College in OKC), Black Oak made its festival debut, and the band has been off and running ever since.īlack Oak Shillelagh has performed at pubs, weddings, St. (Well, 'invited' might be a bit strong - more like pulled him up on stage and said, "Here, play this." Kevin was a bit shy.)īOS began rehearsals in September, 2010, and was invited almost immediately to fill an open slot at Sean Cummings Irish Pub in Oklahoma City, providing traditional music during the evening dining hours. They decided that they wanted to form a band that would be available for performance opportunities at faires as well as in Irish pubs and bars, and invited Kevin Fitzgerald (a fellow Renaissance Faire performer and musician) to join them. Both already members of a Celtic pub band called On The Doss, Roger and Rebecca also liked attending and performing in garb (costume) at Renaissance Faires and Scottish Festivals. The idea of Black Oak Shillelagh was conceived by Roger Graham and Rebecca Grotts.