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The one destinctive Irish trend was the flannel dresses boys wore in the 19th and early 20th century. This was different than the kilt style in Scotland as these flannel dresses were in no way considered to be a national costume. Mothers apparently began wearing these flannel dresses to confuse the farries who prone to steal little boys. We are not sure just when this practice started. We know it was common in the 19th century, but are less sure before tghuis. Of course younger boys commonly wore dresses before the 20th century. But this practice in Ireland was for older boys than the younger boys who wore dresses before breeching. We see school-age boys wearing these flannel dresses. It should not be thought that these were school outfits. We believe these boys wore these dresses all the time. Many of the available photographs are at school, probbly because this was a convenient place to photograph them. The practice was most pronounced in isolated rural areas. These boys did not come from affluent families. They would not have had large wardrobes. We suspect they may have worn these dresses all the time. The boys may have had one dress for school and best, and another dress for play. Here w are unsure. They also may have had jsckets and sweaters worn with the dresses in cooler weather. A good example of this is the Kilglass National School in 1902. The younger boys there not only wore dresses, but pinafores as well like the girls.
Wheeler, Harold. Ed. Peoples of the World in Pictures (Odhams Press Limited: London, 1936).
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