Legs and kilts a Celtic tradition
Sunday, March 18, 2007 By Dustin Schoof
The Express-Times
BETHLEHEM | ZZ Top once sang, "She's got legs and she knows how to use them."
Except in this case, replace "she" with "he," throw in kilts and traditional Celtic music and what you have is one of the city's most popular St. Patrick's Day celebrations.
More than 20 men from around the region braved biting winds to show some skin during the fifth annual "Best Legs in a Kilt" competition Saturday afternoon outside Donegal Square on Main Street.
"If I can wear a kilt, anyone can," joked bagpipe player John Bottomley of Bethlehem. "Everybody has such a great time here, and you've got to love that."
Amid roars of cat-calls and applause from spectators, contestants shimmied, danced and twirled their way past the judges' table -- giving those in the right line of vision a sneak peek at what hid below the kilt.
"My strategy was to show as much skin as I could without getting disqualified," said Mikel Perry of Jim Thorpe, who took home first place and a gift certificate to the store.
"I was surprised. I was kind of worried with the weather and everything but I'm glad everyone came out today."
Rounding out the top three finalists were Jed Hobin of Williams Township and John Griffiths of Easton.
For participant John Goldsworthy of Emmaus, Saturday's event was years in the making. It was also a chance, he said, to immerse himself in his family's Celtic heritage.
"I wanted a kilt for many years, and I finally got one and decided to enter," said Goldsworthy. "It seemed like the right thing to do."
Judge Ann Haggerty Raines of Bethlehem said entrants were judged on authenticity and attitude.
"You've got to have good swagger if you're going to deliver. You need something that catches the judges' eyes," she said. "There's nothing quite like seeing a proud Celtic man."
