Where is Celtic Heritage Going?

We were asked “What direction do you see the Celtic heritage “scene” heading and what can we do to keep the flames of interest building?”
Kilts in this video:
‘American Dream Tartan’
www.usakilts.com/kilts-and-pa...
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Started in 2003, USA Kilts is a team of kilt makers and artisans located in Spring City PA. In 2017, we made it our mission to build community and bring kilts and Celtic culture to the forefront with our YT show: Kilts & Culture.
www.USAKilts.com
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[@robritchie1473]

I wear my kilts on my daily hikes. I used to be a safety patrolman for the park district where I hike. Many people saw me and enjoyed what I wore. I've been wearing kilts for over 15 years, own more than 50 and still don't own a single wool kilt. Around 70% are acrylic and the rest Poly Viscose. The acrylic kilts are lightweight and perfect for hiking. The PV kilts are stronger and have a Teflon coating, making them perfect for foul weather. Only a kilt expert could tell they're not wool, but I wouldn't care anyway!

[@marriedaprince1]

Hey friends, I just recently found your channel. Since you asked, I had NEVER explored any Celtic heritage- I always identified more with my French heritage, I had a French last name, learned French in school...until a couple years ago when we moved from the west coast to the southeast. I homeschool my kids, and part of learning state history was learning about the colonial settlers of the backcountry...some of which were Scots-Irish...I had never heard of this group of people and began to research them intensely. And big surprise, apparently I had tons of ancestors from British isles and Ireland, some which came to colonies as early as the 1600s. But I began to find videos on YT of the dance and music that the Scots-Irish had brought to the US (fiddle, clogging, flatfooting), and I discovered and began Sean nos dancing. In turn, as I searched Sean nos songs on YT to learn to dance to, I discovered Sean NOs singing...which I also had never heard of, but like most people was captivated by. I started learning to sing the songs, and learning Irish so I could pronounce the words and understand the stories. My kids learn the songs along with me and some Irish phrases, but I don't force it on them. We have also gone to some Scottish heritage festivals near us. I haven't yet worn a kilt though!

[@patgarrett3746]

It sounds like you're having a great time exploring your Celtic heritage! I like how you are bringing your kids along on the journey with you. They're making precious memories and they'll never forget the times you spent together learning a little Irish.

[@philiptruitt]

Thank you! Very regularly kilted and been learning Gàidhlig for 2 years!!

[@kiltedhiker9090]

I'm also learning Scottish Gaelic, about have 2 years as well. I'm also regularly kilted! I've been getting extremely discouraged on my Gaelic lessons lately though, I have nobody to practice with... Wondering if we could connect somehow and maybe we could practice together? I have Instagram that's about it for social media lol

[@ryanll7312]

Sharing and experiencing different cultures is beautiful. One great thing about the internet age. Also, The Pogues used a banjo and it worked.

[@timeastwoodbagpiper]

How do I enact my heritage? I wake up. As a musician I've always appreciated that some folk like to stick to what's traditional, some folk like to dig into what's historical and some like to take the traditional and run with it, fuse, improvise etc. I see the need for all of it and I dabble in each. It's just the same with classical music or jazz, you need the people in the orchestra playing what's written and you need the crazy solos and cadenzas.

[@jamescraig8002]

Celtic music amazing music for as long as I can remember I've always loved the sound of the bagpipes and the flutes and yes it was awesome to me when you have to Dropkick Murphys and all them people come into a visual of society just couldn't help but the fall in love with that music including the traditional Celtic there's something spiritually magically about it

[@richardwhite3924]

As I have mentioned in other comments to other USA Kilts videos, I wear a kilt pretty much 7 days a week. My father's family originally came from Ireland and my mother's family originally came form Scotland (Clan Lamont). I am a jazz and cabaret vocalist and, yes, I wear a kilt when I am performing in jazz clubs and cabarets. I sing more than Celtic songs - I sing Duke Ellington, Stephen Sondheim, Rodgers and Hammerstein songs wearing a kilt.

[@dicksteffen1025]

Speaking of blending cultures, when I went to grad school at Iowa State University in Ames Iowa back in the early 1990s there was a restaurant named O'Malley and McGee's fine Mexican Cuisine. It was a pretty popular place as I recall.

[@noaryogi3721]

Love from Bretagne

[@JMD1965]

Not allowed to wear a kilt at work (a 'composite toes' & safety glasses warehouse environment)... BUT I can wear a tartan vest!!! So for Tartan Day every YEAR...

[@thejacobitehiker]

I've been a kilt wearer since I was 21, and now 56 I still wear kilts and Great Kilts, both in normal everyday wear to hiking long distance walks such as The West highland Way, Rob Roy Way, Cape Wrath, Great Glen Way etc as well as completing 44 Munro's including 30 summits on Ben Nevis, 26 of which were in kilts. I grew up in Oban in the West Highlands, and was a Gaelic speaker when I was young, having to relearn that as an adult though, not as easy. Anyway, growing up in Oban we were brought up surrounded by the yearly Highland Games (The Argyllshire Gathering), the sound of bagpipes, the Gaelic MOD, Scottish music coming from pubs and hotels etc, etc. I wear the kilts and Great kilts because that's what I feel comfortable in, and in the last few years we discovered Jacobite's and even a Drover in the family history, so my kilt wearing seemed to make much more sense on a personal level. I have always been a proud kilt wearer, but discovering the Jacobite connection has certainly increased that level of pride. I have one polyester acrylic kilt, but my others are 100% pure wool 16 oz, and my plaids are also pure wool, although they are of different quality. I have only hiked in the cheaper of the two plaids. The pure wool kilts sit better, move better and feel better, so I would always go for a pure wool kilt if you are looking to introduce a kilt to your wardrobe. You will not regret it.

[@joebailey1945]

Thank you for these talks you have tons of info. I belong to the Celtic Heritage Alliance here in Oregon and we put on several events each year. With traditional games and music. Would be great for you two to come here and have an informal Q&A for our guest.

[@jaxson1948]

Great topic! We need this!

[@fowledupfarmer]

Thanks for the great content.

[@charlesdriggers199]

I understand from where you are coming. And yes. Especially here in the U.S. we are mutts. Most of my heritage comes from the British Isl. with the majority coming from Scotland. That being said, it is hard for me not to be ridged with some of it . I am going to take your advice and lighten up a bit.

[@Alasdair37448]

I agree with that entirely that cross pollination is a good thing I understand the feelings of those who want to hold on to the more traditional ways however I believe for a culture to thrive it needs to be able to adapt and not become stagnate cultures that can not adapt slowly fade away as they no longer have context with the people. I say to each his own if you want to sick to just the purest tradition good on you however I would ask that you respect the decisions of those who seek to carry those ways into the future.

[@jamescraig8002]

By myself rather enjoy wearing my kilts not only are they comfortable but it is come around about for me taking over from when my I got old enough going into family history taking over for my mom finding out that all my father Scottish and do that for the longest time found out my grandma was Dutch and my mom so she comes from my Irish background issue I have here there's so much stereotyping when I see a man wearing a kilt so yeah I have to admit the only thing I really like about Halloween the most is this the day I can actually wear my Kilts in public without stereotyping people thinking you're gay or whatever. Simple fact is I'm proud of the fact you know my father's father came here to America from Scotland with a Dutch wife my mother's family came here to America with Ireland I come from the correct then on the father's side we're checking into that over and over again the Craig's from Scotland also hey racing titles in Ireland but because of simple fact my mom's family from Ireland I can't remember the name of the island that my family was named after while my mom's mom I just remember the shock I came across when I was checking into family history that when the Vikings took over Ireland for a short amount of time my mom's family were kind of enslaved and one was bred with a Viking but the same time was given Sanctuary where they left and took that freedom and came to America so me myself I wear my Kilt with pride but still here on Nebraska trying to get people to understand there's nothing wrong with the man and a Kill and that's where it gets aggravating I remember when I was growing up in Colorado and I started wearing kilts won't ever really said anything but you get here in the panhandles of Nebraska or the Bible Belt and all the Prejudice thing there's no words for it I see a man in a kilt or else they say a skirt they automatically assume you're on drugs you're gay or and it rather pisses me off maybe once every 4 or 5 years they have a Celtic Gathering here I didn't get to go to the last one they had here because I had to work guess where I'm coming off this I appreciate you guys your show and it's good to know I'm not the only one around who's still appreciates the hand-me-down of wearing of Kilt for my father's mom even though she was Dutch but married to a Scottish man who was a blacksmith

[@k.s.3748]

All my kilts are synthetic. If I had wool here in Texas it would be eaten quickly by the amazing number of insects.

[@gallowglass2630]

Mixing Rock/pop and folk music in ireland has been a thing atleast since the 70s atleast from the horselips to the corrs. Celtic music at least in ireland is a living tradition its not and never has been a museum piece .

[@michaelfoley9904]

Agreed 👍

[@johnnyjet3.1412]

Say that again, but without using your hands.

[@glencoe1951]

It's heading down the toilet.