Figure 1.--HBC is not sure what kind of school this is. It does not look like a private school. HBC had thought that that secondary schools in Ireland as in England generally required boys to wear blazers or suit jackets and ties. A HBC reader tells us, however, that blazers were not common at state schools. Some Irish boys still wore short pants uniforms to school in the 1960s. Three boys in this school, for some reason placed in the front row wear shorts. Presumably their parents preferred the short pants uniform.

We do not yet have historical information on Irish schools. Some information is available on the 20th century. Irish school uniforms in the first half of the 20th century were as far as I can tell, indistinguishable from English school uniforms. I know of know significant dirrerence. This is understandable because until the 1920s, Ireland was a part of the United Kingdom. Even after the southern counnties achieved independence, Ireland retained close economic and cultural relations with Brirain. Little or no change was made in school uniform.

Historical Background

Some historical back ground is necessary understand the development of Irish school uniform. Especially why they are virtually identical to English school uniforms. The history of Ireland and England have been interwined throughout history. St. Patruck indeed was a youth from what is now England that was enslaced by Irish raiders. Ireland was first invaded by the English in the 12th century. From that time England has controlled part or all of Ireland in one form or another. From the reign of Henry VIII, Ireland was made a kingdom, under the same monarch as England, but a separate country. In law and in practice, the Irish government was usually subordinate to the English government. The 17th century saw several wars in England and Ireland: civil wars, colonial wars, and at least onewar that was part of a wider European conflict. Following some of these disruptions, thewinners forcibly transferred ownership of large amounts of land to new landlords, and sometimesnew tenants: those who had supported the winning side, and/or those who they felt would supportthem in the future. The net effect of this was to disenfranchise and alienate the Gaelic/Catholic (Roman Catholic) majority population (aristocracy and common people alike) and some of the older Anglo-Irish families, and establish a new ruling elite of Anglo-Irish (people of English background, and alsoanglicized Irish) members of the Church of Ireland (Anglican/Episcopalian). This "Protestant Ascendancy" lasted well into the 19th century, with traces still in evidence today. Another transplanted population was introduced to Ireland, mainly in the north-east (part of the northern province of Ulster): Presbyterians (historically know as Dissenters) from Scotland (also England and even Germany), and other nonconformist Christians (especially Friends (ie Quakers). They started arriving in the 16th century, and their numbers grew in the 17th. During this period theyand the Protestant Ascendancy were not close allies: there were significant differences inbackground, social class and style of Protestantism. Both the Catholic majority and the Presbyterians were the victims of discriminatory laws favouringthe Church of Ireland. Generally, though, the discrimination against Catholics was worse than that against the nonconformists. Ireland was technically made one with England, Scotland and Wales (1800) as part of the UnitedKingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. In some ways, this was a Good Thing for Ireland, as it led to electoral reform, land reform, and the disestablishment of the Church of Ireland and its right to taxthe whole population. But the colonial relationship remained, and as freedoms grew without realequality with England and the English, so did Irish nationalism develop and flourish. As the 19thcentury moved on, independence became inevitable. The British Parliament had passed an Irish Home Rule bill, butits implementation was delayed because of World War I (1914-18). A small band of Irish Republicans, holding thatindependence was Ireland's of right and not in England's gift, staged an armed rebellion (the EasterRising) in 1916, briefly taking over a small part of central Dublin. The government acted harshly,executing several of the rebels, and cracking down hard in general. This led most of the country toside with the rebel cause. It quickly became ungovernable by Britain.

Historical Schools

We have very limited information at this time as to how schools fitted into Irish history. Irish monastaries played an inportant role in early medieval Europe. These monastries wereknown for their learning and must have had schools, but we have no information about them at this time. After the Reformation Schools became an issue between the English Protestants and native born Irish Catholics. The English used the schools to teach the Protestant faith. The Irish turned to illegal Hedge Schools which provided an Irish view of history, Gaelic language instruction, and Catholocism. Britain laged behind many other countries in providing free public schools for children. This did not occur until the late 19th century when so-called National Schools were established. We are not sure about the curriculum in these schools. We do not know how religion was handled and who was allowed to teach in these schools. Were all the teachers Protestants? Nor do we knowhow they handled historical issues. Nor do we know when Catholics were allowed to found schools. We do know that the Christian Brothers played an important role in early Catholic schools. We do not know, however, to what extent the British authorities.monitored the curriculum.

Figure 2.--These boys at a rural Irish school were still wearing 'dresses in this photograph taken in 1915. We are not sure what kind of school it was, perhaps a National School.

Chronologies

I currently have very little information on Irish school uniforms. Boys in rural areas that went to school were often outfitted in dresses. Boys in urban areas were more likely to dress like English boys. Affluent Irish boys appear to have worn basically the same styles as British boys. English-style styles appear to have become increasingly common in the 20th century, especially after World War I. This is an interestingly development because this was just the time when the Irish Free State was form and Ireland broke from the British. HBC still has limited information on Irish schoolwear, but Irish readers have supplied some information which has helped to sketch out some basic patterns.

Types of Schools

As in England, there are a variety of historical schools of various types. The British founded National Schools. Irish nationalists attempted tp perpetuate Irish culture through Hege Schools. The Christian Brothers were active in Ireland. There has been three types of schools in Ireland, state schools, private schools, and Catholic schools--kind of a cross between private schools and state schools. There are many similarities among these schools, but also some notable differences. The trends have of course varied overtime. Many of the schoolwear fashions are essentially English fashions and reflect trens in comparable schools. The Catholic schols are run by a board of managment. They run on a government grant per pupil and funding from parents. The Public secondary schools are state run they get all funding from the state. The private secondary schhols are mostly boarding schools. They ar primarily supported by school ees, but do get some grants from the govenment but not much.

Activities

There are a wide range of activities conducted at school, both inside and outside the classroom. Here we will collect information from arriving at school to going home in the afternoon. Many of these activities required a specaialized uniform or sports gear. We don't think that state primaries had uniforms, at least before World War II. This may have changed after the War as it did in Britain. State secondary schools did have uniforms. Thus classroom wear will be affected by this basic pattern. Many private schools had a dress uniform worn on Sunday or special school events. During regular school days a less elaborate uniform was worn. At scome schools boys would come to schools in their blazers, but just wear their jumpers while in class. Some class room activities like art or science might require some sort of protective gear. Quite a number of schools sponsored youth group units such as Scouts. Some secondary schools had Cadet units. Many schools had a gym uniform. There was a variety of specialized uniform for various team sports.

Figure 5.--This Irish boy wears a uniform indistinguishable from his English counterpart. Notw the trim on the blazer.

Garments

The school uniform garments worn in Ireland are the same as those wore in England. The authors know of no specifically Irish garment worn by school boys. This of course reflects the fat that until the 1920s, Ireland was part of Britain and the Irish school system was founded and set up by British authorities. Private schools also followed Britosh patterns.

Caps

Blazers

The wearing of blazers depended on the type of school. HBC reader G. Jones reports that statre school boys did not commonly wear blazers as late as the early 1960s. Blazers were commonly worn at most boys at private schools, in part because the private schools were stronly influenced by English styles and parents at the schools were generally affluent and could aford a more expensive school kit than state school boys. The blazers at private schools, especially the prep schools, were more colorful--although often not as colorful as the English prep school blazers.

HBC is somewhat confused as we have some photographs showing the boys wearing blazers. We had thought that blazers were common. A HBC readers, however, tells us that they were not common at state schoolls through the 1960s. G. Jones tell us, "I would imagine that the photographs you have are for private schools if they relate to the late -1950s or early-60s. Most of the State Schools were run by the Religious Orders and were essentially set up by the religious orders to provide free education. The cost of unifroms etc. would have been a major consideration and I would be surprised if very many of them would have had a uniform incorporating a blazer. That is not to say that some boys were a dark blazer, even though it wasn't a uniform. I also suspect that some state schools, although I do think they would be rare, in the Dublin area, might have had a uniform incorporating a blazer. As I said I believe it wouldn't have been imposed because of the cost factor. Incidently, mixed sex schools would have been extremely rare both at Primary Level and Secondary Level."

Sweaters

Elementary boys commonly wore sweaters to school rather than blazers.

Shirts

Ties

Most secondary schools requited ties, but few elementary schools required them with the exception of the private prep schools.

Pants

Most boys at state elementary schools mostly wore short pants until the 1970s. It was not a school requirement. It was because that was mostly what the boys wore. Boys through the 1950s also pften wore short pants to secondry schools, at least the first 1-2 years. This became increasingly less common in the 1960s, although there were still a few older boys wearing shorts. They would often be teased by the boys already in longs.

Private schools usually had much more elaborate uniform requirements. Most prep schools until the 1980s required short pants. Some private secondary schools required shorts for junior boys, although most had long pants uniforms by the 1980s.

Kilts

Kilts were not normally worn by Irish school children. A HBC reader tells us about his school in the 1980s run by Scottish nuns whih required kilts. An Irish reader in 2003 reports that there are a few other Irish schools that have a uniform consisting of a sweater, tie, and kilt. A HBC reader knows there are several schools with kilt uniforms as the clerk in a Dublin uniform shop told him. We do not have information on all of the schools, but one school we know about is a Catholic semi-private school. We know that some schools had kilt uniforms in the 1980s. We are less sure about the 1990s. Some schools may have continued the kilt uniform in the 1990s, but some appear to have introduced it in the 2002. We are not sure why these schools have returned to a traditional uniform. Some reports suggest that the schools are trying to address discipline problems. The kilt uniform with a tie and sweater was the evry day uniform for the boys. The girls wear a skirt and sweater. The kilts in the shop were navy and green with a little yellow. They were worn with a green sweater. This did not appear to be the first year for thekilt uniform. Our English reader reports, "They took up the uniform in September. The shopassistant said that the girls uniform has always been the same. They wore a tartan skirt and a sweater. The school asked the shop to get the same tartan in a kilt for the boys. She said that they had ordered the kilts before the summer. They had to measure all the existing students and arrange for the new students to visit for mesurments. They ordered in enough for September, but they stock a range of sizes for replacments and new students who might join midterm. My guess is that the boys are not impressed, but then again its only a uniform. I know if the school that my boys went to decided to change their uniform I would back it. And I don't think my guys would have a problem with that. I wore a kilt for school for 14 weeks and it did not kill me."

Socks

School boys very commonly wore kneesocks to school hen shorts were common. Mos boys now wear ankle socks.

Shoes

I have little information about the shoes worn at Irish schools.

Sandals

Sandals were worn by Irish school boys, but I do not think that school sandals were as commonly worn as in England, although I have no information confirming that. Boys generally wore leather shoes, until the 1980s, children were not encouraged to wear sneakers.

Individual Schools

HBC is collecting information om individual Irish schools. These repesentative schlools show the variety of school clothes and school uniforms worn by Irish boys. They also provide insights on schoolwear trends over time at these schools. HBC readers are incouraged to provide details on their schools.

Individual Experiences

Irish readers have provided some information on some of their school experiences.

Belfast prep schools: Late 1960s-early 70s

Prep school: 1973

Scottish nuns: 1980s

Navigate the Relate Boys Historical Clothing Style Pages
[Main country page]
[Long pants suits] [Short pants suits] [Lederhosen] [Kneesocks] [Eton suits]
[Jacket and trousers] [Blazer] [School sandals]

Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing School Uniform Pages
[Main School Uniform Page]
[Main National School Uniform Page]
[Australia] [England] [France] [Germany]
[Ireland] [Italy] [Japan] [New Zealand] [Scotland]
[United States]

Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Page
[Introduction] [Bibliographies] [Biographies] [Chronology] [Clothing styles]
[Bibliographies] [Contributions] [FAQs] [Glossaries] [Images] [Links] [Registration] [Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]

Created: June 5, 1999
Last updated: 9:42 AM 7/13/2009