Amy Volstromer
The Irish American Club celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with one of their signature events, the Emerald Ball. The ballroom was filled with more than 200 people, many of whom were dressed in shades of green, with a record number of people wearing their kilts! The fun began even before entering the ballroom, as attendees were warmly greeted at the door by some of our proud kilt-wearing members. The ballroom was beautifully decorated, with gorgeous plaid tartan runners adorning the tables, along with fresh bouquets of roses and glittery balloons. Before the dance floor filled, a picture was taken of the colorful kilt-wearing members.
Kilt-wearing became common in Ireland during the mid-1800s. In Ireland, kilts are tied to a person’s county or region. Ireland has a designated tartan for each of four Irish provinces: Connacht, Leinster, Munster, and Ulster. A man from Cork would probably wear the Cork Tartan, and so forth.
Today, an Irish kilt is similar in style and appearance to a Scottish kilt. They were worn for both protection and to set their regiments apart from the British army. There’s also historic evidence that Irish kilts were worn at weddings, music fests, and political gatherings.
If you’re interested in learning more about Irish culture and the club, please see our website: pcirishaz.org.