Our Kilt and Flag
Years ago, at a performance, someone asked if one of our band mates was wearing a solid-colored kilt because she "hadn't earned her stripes yet". While we found the question to be hilarious, it also signified the need for education about different kilts and their history.

Our kilt is a solid dark blue, contemporarily referred to as "St. Patrick's Royal Blue". While this term is not officially the correct name for this particular color, it tends to be confused with many different shades of blue used in Irish symbolism. The color we use is represented on the coat of arms of Ireland and the standard of the president of Ireland, which are a gold (or) Irish harp with silver strings on a field of blue. This blue has been referred to as "Presidential Standard Blue". The standard was introduced at the end of Douglas Hyde's term in 1945. The arms were granted by the Chief Herald of Ireland on November 9th, 1945.

That said, the flag that we carry on our pipes during massed bands and parades matches our kilt- and is none other than the Irish Presidential Standard itself.

Pipe Bands have many different reasons for choosing the color and styles of their kilts. A Traditionally Scottish Pipe Band would usually be seen wearing a Tartan Kilt, which is the plaid that most people expect to see. Tartans mostly represent Scottish clans, however there are also many different organizations and countries that have their own official Tartan pattern. Heck, even Irn Bru (Scotland's *other* "National Drink") has its own tartan!

Because we are an Irish Pipe Band, we tend to wear solid colors that represent Ireland- whether an emerald green for the "Emerald Isle", Presidential Standard Blue, or the most commonly-worn Irish Kilt color of Saffron. Why SAFFRON? Many believe Irish kilts originated from the Lein-Croich, which was more like a tunic than a kilt, and was mainly in a yellow/mustardy colour. The Lein-Croich, and its distinctive colour, is thought to be the reason the Saffron Kilt is the most popular Irish kilt and was adopted by traditional Irish Pipe Bands. An Irish Pipe Band might also be seen wearing one of the many Irish County Tartans, which are plaid. And some of them just pick a random Scottish tartan for no other reason than they liked the colors! One particular pipe band in Florida picked the Ramsey Blue tartan for their kilt solely because their town is on the beach, and the colors reminded them of the ocean. So, why did we pick the Presidential Standard blue? Because we wanted to be different! (And, because it's PRETTY!) 

OK, but... what's with the cowboy hats?
We've been asked a few times why we have Minnetonka leather cowboy hats. While they are, indeed, non-regimental - they are part of our uniform! There are several different reasons we choose to wear this nontraditional headgear. First and foremost- a glengarry doesn't provide shade for our faces, but these do- and since we can wear whatever we want when "Traditional Uniform" is not required, we go for it! There are very few pipers and drummers who enjoy standing in formation during massed band ceremonies in the summer sun while our unshaded faces turn redder than an overcooked lobster. The cowboy hats solve that problem! Could we have gone with baseball caps? Eh, maybe... but we're in Cololado! We celebrate the spirit of the west. Don't worry, when the traditional glengarry is expected- such as St. Pat's gigs, competition performances, or solo competitions- we gladly and proudly wear them. If it's parades and massed bands in the sun, though, there's a pretty good chance you'll see us in the cowboy hats. Come say hello to our sunburn-free faces in the blue tent at the next Highland Games. ;)