Several contributors here have mentioned the references to the women dressing in red. I know it from "Ella Speed," which Buck Mulligan refers to (19 Jan. '03). Can anyone help me here. In the lines

    The women all heard that Ella Speed was dead,
    And they all went home and re-ragged in red...

what is the meaning of "re-ragged in red"? They all went home and dressed in red. Why? In the Duncan and Brady song, I could see it meaning a celebration -- good riddance to Brady, let's dress up! But in "Ella Speed" the women are most likely grieving over Ella Speed, who has just been murdered downtown. Was there some custom?