Showing leg to win

Kilt-clad men and soda bread and were popular Sunday at Muldoon’s Irish Pub in Newport Beach.

In the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, seven contestants gathered in Muldoon’s outdoor courtyard for the annual Sexiest Kilt Contest.

While spectators downed fish and chips with beer, some daring men strutted in front of them in hopes of securing the Sexiest Kilt 2010 trophy, which features a figure donning a kilt atop a green column.

“I thought it would be interesting to see how the modern-day guy embraces the concept of the kilt,” said Richard Kaplan, Muldoon’s special events director, noting that the colors and intersecting vertical and horizontal bands on some of the contestants’ kilts represent family ancestry. “For some, it’s a deeper level. For others, it’s just a cool accessory.”

Long Beach resident Paul Buchanan, 48, director of Primal Alchemy Catering, wore a traditional kilt made of a single piece of fabric that stretched around his torso and waist. He had to lie down on the fabric in order to secure it around his chest and hips.

Lake Forest resident Scott Williams, 40, took a more modern approach. His dark and light blue kilt fastens only around the waist.

Besides wearing the kilt, each contestant was asked to share an interest or talent. Williams played Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters” on a hammered dulcimer.

Buchanan opted for a Native American song on a bright green flute carved into the shape of a lizard.

Buchanan won “sexiest kilt” from the five female judges representing the Newport Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau, Hornblower Cruises & Events and Gibson Creative Services.

“I wore them down after five years,” Buchanan said, smiling as he set down a Guinness to accept the trophy.

Throughout the competition, the judges clapped, smiled and snapped photos on their cell phones.

“I’ve been doing this eight years. I’m very proud of my Irish roots. Celtic roots, history and talent really come out in this [competition],” said Shannon Gibson, judge and owner of Gibson Creative Services.

“Amazing talent! We really had a tough decision, but we did like the lizard,” said Charlette McAuliffe, senior sales manager for Hornblower.

Third-time contestant Gereme Gaffney, 23, was not a sore loser. Gaffney’s father told him about the event.

“He told me about ‘wear your kilt day at Muldoon’s,’” Gaffney said. “So I wear my kilt, and the next thing I know, I’m being thrown onto the stage.”