The Deutscher Club’s March meeting drew its usual festive German-American crowd this week at Laurel Manor Rec Center, but distinctively different sounds reverberated from the ballroom compared with most months.This ethnic social group obviously caught the infectious Irish spirit which was rampant all week in The Villages and translated it into a fun party. Instead of Edelweiss and Lili Marlenelyrics sung in German, strains of Danny Boy and The Rose of Tralee were heard.
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DJ Dan the Man, in leprechaun garb, led nearly the 200 attendees in singing, dancing and toasting to Irish, German and patriotic American favorites. Toojay’s lean corned beef was on the menu. Throughout the room, green shirts and whimsical props joined the German and American flags at each table. “Ireland is not so far from Germany,” said party goer Eileen Morkevich, who lives  with her husband, Tom, in The Village of Buttonwood — “so why not have a Deutscher St. Patrick’s party.” Club President, Kirk Freundt, from The Village of Hemingway, likes mixing up cultures from time to time. “The Irish helped us with our Oktoberfest residents parade,” said Kirk, “and we helped them with theirs. It’s all in good fun. We may even have a Greek night one of these months.”
