Mr Gay Ireland
Encyclopedia
Mr Gay Ireland is an annual contest for gay men, with regional heats held in gay venues around Ireland
, with a grand final held in late October. In previous years the final has been held in The George
, Dublin. The current title holder is Max Krzyzanowski. Max won the title of Mr. Gay Ireland 2010 and went on to win the title of Mr Gay World 2010.
Founded in 2005 and originally called Mr Gay Dublin, the event is organised by the Dublin Gay Theatre Festival
. Mr Gay Ireland has become more than a beauty contest and has become a nationwide community civic and social project designed to overcome negative stereotypes of gay people and to encourage a civic and social action for HIV
/AIDS
amongst the contestants and their friends.
The contest previously has been hosted by Brendan Courtney
, alongside Dolly Grip, one of the George's resident drag queen
s.
Mr Gay Ireland is run by a group of volunteers from the International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival, a registered, not for profit company, limited by guarantee. Since its inception, Mr Gay Ireland has donated almost €50,000 to charitable causes including Round Tower Housing Association (HIV/AIDS), St. James's Hospital
Foundation (HIV/AIDS), BelongTo Youth Development, the KAL case and GCN
.
Mr Gay Ireland 2008 Derek Daly made the Grand Final in the Mr Gay International Competition in Hollywood in January. Both he and Mr Gay Northern Ireland represented Ireland in the Mr Europe Competition in Budapest July 1-6th. Mr Gay Ireland 2007 John Rice was 3rd in Budapest in 2007. Mikey Robinson, Mr Gay Northern Ireland 2007 made the top 8 in Budapest (‘07), following Mr Gay Ireland 2006 Keith Kearney’s second place in Mr Gay Europe in Amsterdam in 2006.
It is the only all-Ireland event of its kind. Entrants are diverse: aged from 18 to 40, with many nationalities competing for the prize. Mr Gay Dublin ‘07 was Spanish and Mr Gay South West ‘08 is Polish.
Mr Gay Ireland lost some monies from 2010's competition. Let's hope it doesn't happen again this year.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, with a grand final held in late October. In previous years the final has been held in The George
The George, Dublin
The George is a pub and nightclub on South Great George's Street in the city centre of Dublin, Ireland. Opened in 1985—eight years before homosexuality was legalised in Ireland—it is one of the nation's oldest gay bars and clubs. It is regarded as one of the best known gay bars in the...
, Dublin. The current title holder is Max Krzyzanowski. Max won the title of Mr. Gay Ireland 2010 and went on to win the title of Mr Gay World 2010.
Founded in 2005 and originally called Mr Gay Dublin, the event is organised by the Dublin Gay Theatre Festival
Dublin Gay Theatre Festival
The International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival is a theatrical event held annually in Dublin, Republic of Ireland during the first two weeks of May. The eight festival will be held from 2–15 May 2011 with 30 productions participating, staging over 200 individual performances and events. Over 70%...
. Mr Gay Ireland has become more than a beauty contest and has become a nationwide community civic and social project designed to overcome negative stereotypes of gay people and to encourage a civic and social action for HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
/AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
amongst the contestants and their friends.
The contest previously has been hosted by Brendan Courtney
Brendan Courtney
Brendan Courtney is an Irish comedian and television presenter, the first openly gay presenter in Ireland. He has hosted Wanderlust on RTÉ Two, The Brendan Courtney Show on TV3, Playdate on ITV2 and Off the Rails on RTÉ One.-Career:Brendan began his career on RTÉ Two's Wanderlust and ITV1's Love...
, alongside Dolly Grip, one of the George's resident drag queen
Drag queen
A drag queen is a man who dresses, and usually acts, like a caricature woman often for the purpose of entertaining. There are many kinds of drag artists and they vary greatly, from professionals who have starred in films to people who just try it once. Drag queens also vary by class and culture and...
s.
Mr Gay Ireland is run by a group of volunteers from the International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival, a registered, not for profit company, limited by guarantee. Since its inception, Mr Gay Ireland has donated almost €50,000 to charitable causes including Round Tower Housing Association (HIV/AIDS), St. James's Hospital
St. James's Hospital
St. James's Hospital , also known as SJH, is the largest university teaching hospital in Dublin, Ireland. Its academic partner is the University of Dublin...
Foundation (HIV/AIDS), BelongTo Youth Development, the KAL case and GCN
Gay Community News (Dublin)
Gay Community News, based in Dublin, is Ireland's longest-running LGBT publication. First published on 10 February 1988 when Tonie Walsh and Catherine Glendon, both activists on the Dublin gay scene, decided it was time for Ireland’s gay and lesbian population to have a free publication of their...
.
Mr Gay Ireland 2008 Derek Daly made the Grand Final in the Mr Gay International Competition in Hollywood in January. Both he and Mr Gay Northern Ireland represented Ireland in the Mr Europe Competition in Budapest July 1-6th. Mr Gay Ireland 2007 John Rice was 3rd in Budapest in 2007. Mikey Robinson, Mr Gay Northern Ireland 2007 made the top 8 in Budapest (‘07), following Mr Gay Ireland 2006 Keith Kearney’s second place in Mr Gay Europe in Amsterdam in 2006.
It is the only all-Ireland event of its kind. Entrants are diverse: aged from 18 to 40, with many nationalities competing for the prize. Mr Gay Dublin ‘07 was Spanish and Mr Gay South West ‘08 is Polish.
Mr Gay Ireland lost some monies from 2010's competition. Let's hope it doesn't happen again this year.