Cork has three representatives in this years’ Mr Gay Ireland Final, and on behalf of everyone on GayCork.com, we’d like to wish them all the best.
We ran a few features on each of the contestants and you read read them by clicking on the links below:
Damien Fitzgerald, Mr GayCork.com
James Shelley, Mr Gay Cork 2011
Cork will have three representatives in this year’s Mr Gay Ireland. We caught up with the last of them, Damien Fitzgerald who won Mr GayCork.com and Mr Chambers Popular.
Where and when were you born?
Born the third of march 1980, in Waterford city.
Where do you live now, and with whom? Describe the place and the person/people.
I live in Carrigaline in a big house all on my own, all good because my mam and sister are only around the corner.
What is your occupation?
I am restaurant manager and a duty manager in the Montenotte hotel in Cork city, love my job ;-p
What do you have in your pockets?
Master key, card till, card deck, phone , money mobile and a lighter need to buy some fags lol
What was the last song you sang when no one else was around?
I was singing Katie Perry Friday night worst thing it was in front of people in work ,
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Can I let you know when I grow up lol ;-p
When and with whom was your first kiss?
It was in the local teenage disco/youth club with whom I cant remember, it is the age thing [old age me ]
Who has had the most influence on you?
My mother, sister and brother we have a small family but I look up to every one of them, they have always been there for me, especially my Mam.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Haven’t had my greatest achievement yet but I have had a lot good ones,
What things are most important to you now? Why?
Always gonna be my family and friends. I love my family, and I have some of the best friends in the world, [emma, cliff ]
Who do you trust and depend on?
My true friends and always my mam sister and brother I would trust them with my life
Are you basically optimistic or pessimistic?
Depends on what mood and day off the week it is lol ;-p
Do you believe in the existence of soul mates and/or true love?
I will let you know if I fall in love or find a soulmate!
What do you believe makes a successful life?
A can do good attitude, hard work and respect for yourself and anybody who you have the pleasure to meet on lifes journey
What is your favorite kind of music?
I listen to anything but depressing music
What scares you?
The abilty of not been scared lol
Hugs or Kisses?
Hugs with the odd kiss
Who is the most important person in your life, and why?
I cant pick one they are all as equally important to me
How close are you to your family?
Close love em to bits
Do you care what others think of you?
No not at all,
What is/are your favorite hobbies and pastimes?
Don’t get to have much time off in work but going out with my best friends etc
What is your most treasured possession?
My health
How do you spend a typical Saturday night?
1 out of 4 in work lol
What makes you laugh?
These questions ;-p
What, if anything, shocks or offends you?
Disrespecting people, hate it
Are you spontaneous, or do you always need to have a plan?
A bit of both whatever goes really
Do you like to dance?
Hell no hate it
Describe the routine of a normal day for you. How do you feel when this routine is disrupted?
Get up shower shave , clean eat get ready for work go to work finish work go to bed, if I was disrupet it would make a good change to my day ;-p
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
My ignorant streak that pops its ugly head out from time to time
Are you generally organized or messy?
Organized chaos
What goal do you most want to accomplish in your lifetime?
Manager of a four/five star hotel in the states
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
If I could see that I would be able to see next weeks lotto numbers lol
What three words best describe your personality?
Scary, funny, moody
What three words would others probably use to describe you?
I asked other people they wont tell me ;-p
If you were to choose a new name for yourself, what would it be?
Jayden don’t ask
What do you do for fun?
Emmmm let me think lol xx
What do you do most often when you are bored?
Chill out and meet up with my friends
What is something that you are really proud of and why?
How I am getting on in my job , and how the upper management have noticed it and rewarded it
Why did you enter Mr Gay Cork 2011?
Was asked to and it is a great night and what a buzz and of course a great cause
How does it feel to be Mr GayCork.com 2011 & Mr Chambers Popular?
Em it was a great feeling to win chambers mr popular I was delighted as I am not out that long, then to win mr gaycork.com was just the icing on the cake so many of the lads deserved it that night , we all won
Any ideas / plans to make you stand out in the upcoming Mr Gay Ireland final in Dublin?
I have a few things in my brain just have to find time now to put into action
Finally is there anything else you like to say?
I would just like to thank everybody for there support, Dermot Hickey for nominating me, Rosin for all he hard work on the night Bryan O’Connell for been a great help as well, the fellow contests and bring on Dublin and best of luck to all the lads in the final xxxx
Cork will have three representatives in this year’s Mr Gay Ireland. We caught up with another of them, James Shelley who won the overall title of Mr Gay Cork.
Where and when were you born?
St Finbars Hospital, Cork.
What is your occupation?
Defence Forces (Naval Service)
What do you have in your pockets?
Nothing.
What was the last song you sang when no one else was around?
Just a minute ago, Mumford and Sons,Winter Winds.
Who has had the most influence on you?
My parents.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Navy.
What things are most important to you now? Why?
Family friends and boyfriend, that’s all I need.
Are you basically optimistic or pessimistic?
Definitely optimistic.
What do you believe makes a successful life?
Love and happiness.
What is your favorite kind of music?
Trance, electro, house, folk, chart.
What scares you?
Nothing.
Hugs or Kisses?
Hugs.
Do you care what others think of you?
No.
What is/are your favourite hobbies and pastimes?
Computer games, (Sega lol) swimming, gym, cinema, shopping.
What is your most treasured possession?
My boyfriend.
How do you spend a typical Saturday night?
Cinema or a good night out.
What makes you laugh?
lol
Are you spontaneous, or do you always need to have a plan?
Always need to have a plan.
Do you like to dance?
Yes, love it.
Describe the routine of a normal day for you. How do you feel when this routine is disrupted?
Wake at 7, work for 9, gym on my lunch, home at 5 gym again at 6/7 then munch and chillin, bed at 12. Doesn’t really bother me if its disrupted.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Kids, really want kids.
Are you generally organized or messy?
Organized
What goal do you most want to accomplish in your lifetime?
To do a psychology and sociology course.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Hopefully have that course half done.
What words best describe your personality?
Funny, loving and caring
What three words would others probably use to describe you?
Funny lol
If you were to choose a new name for yourself, what would it be?
Never had a thought like that, I love my name.
What do you do for fun?
hmmmmmm
What do you do most often when you are bored?
Sleep or gym.
What is something that you are really proud of and why?
Proud of myself for coming out, best decision I ever made in my life.
Why did you enter Mr Gay Cork 2011?
For fun and to say I did it.
How does it feel to be Mr Gay Cork 2011?
Feels great.
Any ideas / plans to make you stand out in the upcoming Mr Gay Ireland final in Dublin?
No, nothing at all. Just going to fundraise as much as I can as it’s all about the charity.
Finally is there anything else you like to say?
Erm, Just want to say thanks to everybody who attended on the night of Mr Gay Cork which was held in Chambers. Thanks.
Cork will have three representatives in this year’s Mr Gay Ireland. We caught up with one of them, Adrian Kiely who won the first ever Mr Gay Loafers.
Where and when were you born?
I was born in cork on the 10th of Jan 1982.
Where do you live now, and with whom? Describe the place and the person/people.
I live in a two bed appartment on popes quay with my friend eanna murphy.
What is your occupation?
I am a retail sales consultant at meteor.
What do you have in your pockets?
My fags and my phone
What was the last song you sang when no one else was around?
Leona Lewis, Collide.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A Superhero.
When and with whom was your first kiss?
I was about 7 and with one of my best friends, Tracy.
Who has had the most influence on you?
My Mother, she is my rock and has always kept me grounded.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
That would have to be coming an uncle and god father to my beautiful niece Laila and of course winning Mr Gay Loafers.
What things are most important to you now? Why?
being healthy living life and not just letting it pass me by as I reach 30 I have decided to try things I would never have dreamed of doing before.
Who do you trust and depend on?
My family and my friends – they keep me grounded but alos put up with my bad moods and cheer me up when I’m feeling down but they are also there with good advice when needed.
Are you basically optimistic or pessimistic?
Think I’m a bit of both I have my days where I think the glass is half empty but also have my days where I think it’s half full.
Do you believe in the existence of soul mates and/or true love?
I believe that there is someone out there for everyone but also think because I have been single for so long I’m wondering where he is! lol
What do you believe makes a successful life?
Good health good friends and definately a good social life – you need to have a good balnce of everything.
What is your favorite kind of music?
I love pop music especially 90′s pop and am also a big Leona Lewis fan.
What scares you?
Have a big fear of death or losing a loved one, also spiders!
Hugs or Kisses?
Hugs, nothing like a hug when your feeling low.
Who is the most important person in your life, and why?
That would have to be my mother again. Would be lost without her. I came out at 13 and she has supported me all the way through and when I was bullied bad at school she was always there for me.My dad is also amazing but I’m defo a Mammy’s boy. lol
How close are you to your family?
Very close.
Do you care what others think of you?
I think everyone does. I used to be very bad about it when I was younger, its when you get older you realise it’s not what people think of you that matters, it’s what you think of yourself that counts,
What is/are your favorite hobbies and pastimes?
I love to cook – I make a mean curry, I also love to socialise and a big telly buff.
What is your most treasured possession?
My wax for my hair never leave home without it.
How do you spend a typical Saturday night?
Usually drinks at mine or a friends then clubbing, or we head to Loafers then Chambers – depends how broke we all are. lol
What makes you laugh?
A few of my friends are ditzy, some of the things they come out with make me laugh.
What, if anything, shocks or offends you?
Prejudice ….people who think being gay is a sin and the haters out there.
Are you spontaneous, or do you always need to have a plan?
I always need a plan but I also find by planning it never turns out the way I think it is.
Do you like to dance?
When I’m drunk, I’m very self concious when sober.
Describe the routine of a normal day for you. How do you feel when this routine is disrupted?
I get up, shower and go for the bus and head to work. Once I finished it’s pretty much going home to walk the dog and catch up on a bit of telly depending if I’m going out, then bed. I’m pretty boring really.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
My nose, have always hated it. lol
Are you generally organized or messy?
I like to be organised. I hate mess and being anywhere thats messy.
Name three things you consider yourself to be very good at, and three things you consider yourself to be very bad at.
Being a good friend, being a good godfather and my job. 3 things I’m bad at, sometimes I have a big mouth, being confident and sticking up for myself.
What goal do you most want to accomplish in your lifetime?
To be happy, settled and maybe meet the right person have a family.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
A lot older! lol. Hopefully still in a good job and settled.
What three words best describe your personality?
Bubbly, fun and sarcastic.
What three words would others probably use to describe you?
Vain, generous and dependable.
If you were to choose a new name for yourself, what would it be?
I like Blaine.
What do you do for fun?
Going to friends for dinner or movies and heading out at weekends.
What do you do most often when you are bored?
I can’t let myself be bored. I always have to find something to keep me occupied.
What is something that you are really proud of and why?
Winning mr gay loafers I’m really shy and not confident so to stand up in front of people and speak and walk around in my underwear took alot of guts
Why did you enter Mr Loafers 2011?
I have been on the gay scene for 12 years and have never once entered any kind of event. I really wanted to do something before I turn 30.
How does it feel to be Mr Loafers 2011?
Absolutely amazing it was such a rush and I’m still on a high from it.
Any ideas / plans to make you stand out in the upcoming Mr Gay Ireland final in Dublin?
Nothing at the moment I need to get my thinking cap on
Finally is there anything else you like to say?
I would like to thank everyone at Loafers for putting on such an amazing event and the guys that entered were really some of the nicest people I have ever met. Last of all I would like to thank everyone who came out to support and vote for me.