Whatever its origin, however, the caubeen had become accepted as being distinctively Irish by the early years of the Twentieth Century.
I have four caubeens, no two of them are are the same. two Balmorals, one black, one dark green.
Officers and Warrant officers of this Territorial Army unit wear this extremely attractive hackle in the caubeen, which is provided at their own expense.
And we wear the green caubeen and carry the pike, the distinctive headgear and weapon of the Irish warriors of old.
From 1922 the service dress gave way to a full dress with kilt and caubeen of issue pattern with which is now quite familiar.
Origin
Early 19th century: Irish, literally 'old hat', from cáibín 'little cape', diminutive of cába 'cape'.