OPINION (AN COLÚN): The humour and the seriousness of our fashion choices

THE Midland Tribune and Tullamore Tribune were recently added to the many Irish newspapers on the wonderful website Irish Newspaper Archives (INA). I was delighted to at long last see our newspapers joining the proud and distinguished company of the many great regional newspapers of our land. The Midland Tribune dates back to September 1881 and every copy going back to then is now on the INA. Over the last few weeks I've spent many happy and fascinating hours browsing through the past editions, including reading through a number of Colúns which I wrote many years ago
One of these Colúns, written in 2008, was devoted to beards and pointed out my preference for beards as a fashion choice! The article was humorous but also serious. While rereading it I wondered why I felt it necessary to write an article about a subject which some might think light and frivolous. But, if I remember rightly, I think at the time of writing, some rude comments had been made about my facial hair (which was very bushy and very red - alas it's gone grey now) and I felt compelled, smarting and hurt by the criticism, to launch a defence of my fashion choice.
Part of my article was devoted to the history of beards, because I love history and will happily dive into it given half a chance.
While the article struck a generally humorous tone, there was also a serious, philosophical note; namely, that there's a mood in some of us which inwardly objects to being constricted by the fashions and mores of the current day. There's a mood in some of us which questions why we have to limit our natures. If we have a leaning towards aesthetics and beauty then we can really feel strongly compelled to kick back against the acceptable dress and appearance of current society. We may feel that society has become too grey and unimaginative for our tastes; we may feel that the world around us is only a pale reflection of the beautiful, charming and quirky world of our imaginations.
Thankfully, the cleanshaven look isn't completely dominant in contemporary Ireland (unlike other periods in history, such as ancient Rome). I think beards can sometimes be a better look for some men's faces rather than the clean shaven look. There are many who agree with me, and they see a beard as being a stylish and attractive feature that gives a face character.
According to a recent article I read in a national newspaper the adoption of beards as a fashion choice in Ireland reached a sort of peak around 2014-2017.
In ancient Ireland the beard represented serious things such as honour, bravery and inner strength. The act of cutting a man's beard was considered a serious insult and a form of punishment. The Brehon Laws considered it an offence requiring punishment. The Victorian era also considered beards to represent honour, bravery and inner strength.
The highest ranking Ancient Egyptians grew hair on their chins which was often dyed or hennaed (reddish brown) and sometimes plaited with interwoven gold thread. A metal false beard, or postiche, which was a sign of sovereignty, was worn by queens as well as kings. This was held in place by a ribbon tied over the head and attached to a gold chin strap, a fashion existing from about 3000 to 1580BC.
Mesopotamian civilisations (Assyrian, Babylonian, Chaldean, Median and ancient Persian) devoted great care to oiling and dressing their beards, using tongs and curling irons to create elaborate ringlets and tiered patterns.
Grecian beards were frequently curled with tongs to create hanging curls. Beards predominated among the Greeks and Macedonians until 323BC, at which time the youthful Alexander III of Macedon ordered his soldiers to be clean shaven, fearing that their beards would serve as handles for their enemies to grab onto.
In ancient India and Israel, the beard was allowed to grow long, a symbol of dignity and of wisdom. Beards remained rare among the Romans throughout the Late Republic and the early Principate, until the second century AD when the Emperor Hadrian was the first of all the Caesars to grow a beard. From that time on beards became common in Rome.
I was charmed to learn that there's a group called the Beard Liberation Front. This group campaigns in support of beards and opposes discrimination against those who wear them. On the face of it the campaign is semi-humorous, with its outwardly frivolous aims, and its occasionally outlandish claims of discrimination and conspiracy. However, the organisation has drawn attention to more serious issues, having spoken out against, among other incidents, the suspension of a fireman refusing to shave off his goatee and the banning of beards among ExxonMobil oil workers.
With tongue firmly in cheek the group lists some of the following “facts” about beards: When you stroke your beard it increases your concentration and cognitive ability! Beards are almost completely immune to sarcasm! A beard lets you instinctually know where the nearest mountain is! A beard dramatically increases your wood-chopping capabilities!

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