So what's the deal with Irish tartans?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilt#Kilts_in_Ireland

If you go to "Kilts in Ireland" there you'll see that most Irish kilts were only invented in the 20th Century as a sign of Nationalism. And yes, it also says that it is used to attract tourists.

Irish clan kilts are actually in the process of being created at the moment.

To be honest, we don't really do tartans that much in Ireland, although kilts were very common here many centuries ago.

Bear in mind that in Scotland, people from the remote Highlands were sometimes called 'Irish', and the name Scotland comes from an Irish tribe that once ruled Scotland.

Tartan, as we know it today, is not thought to have existed in Scotland before the 16th century.....it was used worldwide in many countries including Ireland and England and is very much a marketing ploy by Scottish weavers ( a very good one) "clan tartans" date no earlier than the beginning of the 19th century when the weaver INVENTED them.................. as Northern Ireland in particular and Scotland have close connections the practice was taken over to expand industry in adding Irish tartan...............the Irish are an industrial lot and of curse their businesses will use whatever they need to produce wealth for their country.........it is a short hop as kilts were worn in Ireland as in many other countries...and kilts/tartans were claimed as the 'national dress' in Scotland................so in reality kilts and tartans are very modern things for a commercial market, but if people like to associate with them as irish or Scottish it is up to them.....the money spent on buying them provide jobs in weaving, making and selling them aand as long as that is UK/Ierland where it is being sent to and not China or elsewhere long may it last

I wasn't aware of Irish tartans - tartans are mostly associated with Scottish clans. It could be a scam, like some of those websites that sell supposed family crests !

I have never heard of an Irish tartan before and have always associated them with Scotland. I wouldn't consider them 'authentic' or legitimate really.