Yellow kilts and plaids

[Thom Lenahan]

Not sure if this is the correct forum or not but I thought it might fit in here.....just saw "The Pipes and Drums of the Emerald Police Society of Westchester County(NY),I hope I got the name right,and they wear yellow(gold?) kilts and plaids and I was wondering if that color has a special meaning? I hadn`t seen it before and was impressed by the look.....any info would be appreciated,Thom

[Dave Gallagher]

Thom,
It is not really yellow. They wear a version of the Irish saffron kilt. The lighter color was seen more often years ago. The modern saffron kilt is more of a rusty dark color, and has been in use for more than 100 years. The Irish Regiments of the British army made these kilts very popular in the late 1800's.
The shade used by the band you saw is no longer common. Almost everyone uses the darker saffron.
The early verson of the modern saffron kilt was this more yellow color as the dye from the saffron plant is more of a yellow orange. The modern verson is almost a burnt orange color.
Same kilt just different shade.
Dave.

[Thom Lenahan]

Dave, thanks for the info...saffron was what I first thought of but the "yellow" looked so different that it got me wondering if it might be something completely different. I have a "current" saffron kilt and they just didn`t look the same...again thanks for the info...slainte,Thom

[Ernie Halley]

Can you imagine what that yellow kilt will look like after a pint of Guinness is spilled on it?