Irish Men and Women

Other Myths

Myth: Irish leine sleeves hang to the ground and are held up with drawstrings or pleats.

This was a myth created by a member of the Irish camp at Northern faire many years ago. The person has offered an explanation of why, and admits it is not period, nor was it intended to be, but simply a means to keep the large sleeves out of the way. Theatrical considerations was the norm then, and images of Irish garments few.

In images from the time, it appears there were no drawstrings or pleats in historical leines. The sleeves were only to the end of the arm, no longer.

King Henry VIII or Parliament made several decrees telling the Irish how much yardage they could wear according to their station, in 1536, 1539 & 1541. It is unclear how effective such decrees were.

Dutch Water Color Painting of Irish Men and Women, About 1575.
The Image of Irelande, with a discouerie of VVoodkarne, by John Derrick, London, 1581.
Images taken from Old Irish and Highland Dress With Notes on that of the Isle of Man by H.F. McClintock. Dundalgan Press, Dundalk, 1943. Copy on CD.

For more info on John Derrick's The Image of Irelande, with a discouerie of VVoodkarne, please view the plates at http://www.lib.ed.ac.uk/about/bgallery/Gallery/researchcoll/ireland.html

For more info on Irish dress, please read the article What the Irish Wore, The 16th century Irish Léine, by Kass McGann: http://www.reconstructinghistory.com/irish/leine.html