Pampooties arerawhide shoes, which were formerly made and worn on theAran Islands ofCounty Galway,Ireland.
They are formed of a single piece of untanned hide folded around the foot and stitched with twine or a leather strap.[1]
Hide from the buttocks was most often used. The hair was usually left and this improved the shoe's grip.[2] The raw hide is kept flexible by use and the constant damp conditions of Western Ireland. However the shoes are not made to last. They are prone to rot and were usually kept for as little as a month or less.[3]
Pampooties are similar to the Scottishcuaran shoes, and are the precursors toghillies, Celtic dance shoes. They are also similar in appearance to Americanmoccasins.[2] Ancient shoes found preserved from Stone Age Europe have a similar design.[4]
The name "pampootie" is of unclear origin; it may be related to Turkishpapoosh, a kind of slipper. The Aran Islanders simply called thembrógaí úrleathair, "shoes of undressed leather."[5][6]
