This thread has been at the top for a full week. This morning I just had to "bite" and take a look. It certainly does appear to be an "Irish Phenom..." and certainly alien to anything I have seen.

As a Yank - kids to me are 3 to 12 years old.

Your description of cardboard stiff costumes, day-glow colors and plastic-curl hair does certainly seem peculiar

In the age of "YouTube" for the edification of some inthe American audience reading this thread could you possibly find one example of an Irish Step Dancing Contest participant clothed as you believe is GOOD and another example of the clownish type costume you detest as "child abuse?

This is interesting. Is it only practiced in the Republic - or up north also? It seems as strange to me as Hurling or Road Bowling - (but those are easy subjects to find video clips for)

Sincerely,
Gargoyle