What is the traditional dress for londonderry?
Early Irish dress, based on Gaelic and Norse costumes, consisted
of check trews for men, worn with a fringed cloak or mantle, or a
short tunic for both men and women, worn with a fringed cloak. This
style of dressing was prohibited in the 16th century under
sumptuary laws, passed to suppress the distinctive Irish dress and
so overcome Irish reluctance to become part of England.
In particular, the wearing of the fringed cloak was forbidden;
as was the wearing of trews or any saffron-coloured garment
(saffron yellow was an important feature of Irish costume).
Although a strong tradition of wearing folk costume does not
survive in Northern Ireland today, folk music and folk dancing are
very important.