by JoHarrington
Everyone's Irish on March 17th, though that may have more to do with the free flowing Guinness than the actual diaspora.
If you've never been in an Irish bar on St Patrick's Day, then frankly you've never lived. Put it on your bucket list immediately and don't look back. It's not about the alcohol (though that helps too), it's all about the music, the dancing and the atmosphere.
And if you're doing it Gaelic style, you'll want to fit in with a hat for the occasion.
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It's green. It's got a shamrock on it. It catches the party lights. This is the perfect headwear for a lively St Patrick's Day celebration.
Between the sequins, there is glitter embedded into the fabric. It won't be falling out over anyone. The party person wearing it will definitely stand out in a crowd.
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This is a celebration! And these Irish head boppers are pure fun. They sparkle and they dance, just like many a Gael at a party.
As you buy them as a set of six, it means that everyone in your group can don a pair. The headband is plastic and the bopper is wire. If they survive the night, then you possibly weren't jigging hard enough.
The St Patrick's Day head boppers are designed for adults to wear, but will fit larger children too. It's also possible to purchase one on its own, though you'd be paying over half as much as you would for six.
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Talking about fun Irish party hats, nobody could accuse the person wearing this one of being boring! It looks like he's just mugged one of the little people, which wouldn't have ended well back in the old country.
But this (fake) leprechaun hat is held on with a cunningly concealed headband. It's quite nice quality too, being lined velvet, which should see you through many more St Paddy's Day celebrations to come.
Of course, if you're going for a leprechaun look, then you could just go the whole hog and get an appropriate full sized hat. Some even come with an attached beard. There's a few of varying quality listed below.
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If we're being really honest, then a Tam O'Shanter isn't actually associated with the Irish. It's most definitely a Scottish traditional hat.
But they're all Gaelic, so who cares when there's whiskey in the jar?
It gets its name from the Rabbie Burns poem of the same name. Tam is a farmer, who has all kinds of unfortunate adventures while reeling home late from the pub. O'Shanter is a play on words. The Scottish dialect mishanter means ill luck or the Devil.
He escapes his witchy pursuers and makes it home intact, so perhaps there's luck there anyway; and this particular Tam O'Shanter hat is green. So you have the luck of the Irish to throw into the mix.
To really underscore the Irishness of these caps, you could opt for a knitted version. It's decorated with shamrocks and has Erin Go Bragh written on it. You don't get much more Irish than that.
Erin Go Bragh translates as Ireland Forever, though it's semi-Anglicized. The actual Irish Gaelic phrase is Éirinn go Brách, despite the other being the more commonly seen!
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Is knitted headwear your thing? On St Patrick's Day, it probably is, as that's March and not warm outside.
Unfortunately for the adults, this particular beanie is only available for kids. It's tightly knitted in one panel, so it fits snugly as a skull cap.
Your leanbh will not only look suitably Gaelic, while watching or walking in the parade, but will do so in warmth and comfort. There is a similar beanie available for adults too. It has no shamrock though, just the word 'Irish'.
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Comments
Luck of the Irish be with you too! And that sounds like such a cool shamrock that your Grandmother created for you. <3
I'm always that bad girl rushing to the party store the night before St. Pattys Day to get my gear. BUT My Irish Grandmother crocheted me a shamrock on a pin. Always have to don the green, cool stuff ya got here. May the luck of the Irish be with you. :)K
2uesday - Ah! You'd already answered Caj! And I was thinking the same on the shamrock boppers. I can definitely see me and my friends in a set of those.
Caj - A little, but it will be here ready and waiting by March 17th, and people will need to get their hats in advance in order to have them for the day itself.
It's a good hat!
EDIT: The first one.
The lovely green one with the shamrock on the front!
Irish night out for the win! Which hat did you have your eye on?
I want that St Pat's hat- I also want to frequent Levenshulme on St Pat's Night! :)