Figure 1.--Here we see two Irish boys, we think in the 1900s in the square of Ahascragh, a village in east Galway. They wear flat caps, suits wih Eton collars, knee pants and go barefoot. This kind of outfit was very common at the time in villages and rural areas.

Irish clothing trends in the early-20th century followed trends in the late-19th century until World War I. Unfortunately our photographic archive which allows us to follow trends is still very limited for Irelnd. The images we have found look a great deal like rural Britain, especially Wales, but not as prosperous. Irish boys at least in the cities and towns dressed essentially like British boys of comparable economic circumstances. Boys from well-to-to city and town families just like boys in England. We do not see significant differences. We see ordinary working-class boys commonly wearing knee pants or long pants, depending on their ages. Most working-class boys, especially in rural areas went barefoot. This was an economic matter. Shoes were the most expenmsive garments. All shoes at the time wsre leathrr. EW do not see wooden shoes as in the Ndetherlnds and other countries. and many families could not afford lether shoes for the children. While most boys went barefoot, the usually had caps. The clothing was often heavily patched. This was less common in England. In the rural areas some boys were still dressed in traditional frocks, especially in the more isolated western counties. Most Irish people lived very provinical lives, intetesting for a country with so many emigrants living abroad.