The 2012 Mr Gay Ireland Calendar is now on sale and it looks fantastic. This years calendar features this years contestants in full color with a 50’s theme. Contact any of the entrants to get your copy or it’s available in quite a few gay bars.
At the Mr Gay Ireland Final in Dublin on Sunday night Stephen Baitson, Mr Wright Venue, Swords was crowned as Mr Gay Ireland 2012 and Daniel Hegarty, Mr Derry was crowned as Mr Northern Ireland. Photo: Columba O'Hare
Twenty one year old Steven Baitson from Dublin 13 made ‘history’ this weekend when he was selected as Mr Gay Ireland 2012. Steven emerged from a four month long competition, with over 150 entries throughout the Island of Ireland to claim the crown before Judges Glenda Gilsen, Bairbre Power, Micheal Doyle, Abdul Ibraimoh and Executive Producer Brian Merriman.
Mr Gay Ireland Final 2012
Steven from Ayrfield, Dublin13 represented a ’straight venue’ Wrights in Swords in the event, where he works as a host. HIs outgoing personality won over judges and audience as he spoke about identity to a crowded Arlington Hotel, O Connell Bridge. Steven said everyone should mix together in Ireland and that all venues must be welcoming to people and their partners regardless of their sexual orientation. As part of his work with Mr Gay Ireland Steven raised funds for St James Hospital HIV New Fill project in the Wright venue and visited schools to address young people on the positive gay identity.
Steven Baitson, Glenda Gilsen (Judge) and Daniel Hegarty.
The 18 finalists raised 10,700 euros to support the facial muscle restoration service at St James for people suffering side effects from HIV treatment. Doctors from the service addressed the contestants during the weekend and acted as a judge in the crucial interview round.
Mr Gay Ireland 2012
Mr Gay Ireland is the only ‘all-Island’ gay commnity event which saw 23 heats being held nationwide. Twenty year old Derry born Daniel Hegarty won the title Mr Gay Northern Ireland. Daniel is the youngest ever title holder in the 7 years of the competition. A sportsman Daniel likes gym and outdoor sports and will represent Northern Ireland in Mr Gay Europe in Rome next August.
Other pizewinners included Emmet Barret a young deaf man represented the Front Lounge in Dublin – the first ever deaf finalist selected by his fellow contestants as Mr Congenialty, Adrian Kiely, first runner up and the winner of the webvote, represented Loafers in Cork. Chambers Bar Cork representatives won the Best Fundraisers, Andy Guerin Mr Gay Galway won Best Interview, with rugby player Simon Murphy Mr Emerald Warriors coming 3rd and earning the title Mr Gay Dublin.
Executive Producer Brian Merriman stated “These 18 young men have done so much to raise positive gay visibility in rural towns across the Island and to promote safe sex and raise badly needed funds for HIV. We applaud their efforts to be role models for their own communities and fo younger people. The fact that our youngest ever winners have been selected this year is very important in achieving our aim of reaffirming the status and self esteem of young gay people and in promoting understanding of HIV”.
Other contestants represented groups, websites and venues from Wexford, Limerick, Galway, Cork, Belfast, Westmeath, Kildare, Strabane, South Tipperary, and Waterford.
Well the winners are picked.
Mr Gay Ireland 2012 is Stephen Baitson, Mr Wright Venue, Swords and Mr Northern Ireland was Daniel Hegarty, Mr Derry.
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International recording and screen star Pixie Lott appears in a video wishing our 18 contestants the best of luck for the Grand Final on Sunday October 30th at 730pm in the Arlington Hotel O Connell Bridge, Dublin. Buy your TICKETS ONLINE HERE and don’t forget to KEEP VOTING for your favorite
Steve Martyn
Pixie appears with current title holder Baz Gouldsbury in supporting the important HIV fundraiser for the New Fill project in St James Hospital Dublin.
Karl Dawson
Judges include TV3’s Glenda Gilsen, Irish Independent’s Bairbre Power, Peter Mark’s Michael Doyle and promoter Abdul Ibraimoh in a hotly contested all-Island competition now in its seventh year.
Contestants have been narrowed down through 25 heats to 18 finalists including our first deaf champion, Mr Front Lounge, Dublin.
They will represent the gay rugby team – Emerald warriors, The Wright Venue Swords, GaySE.ie (Wexford), Limerick, Cork.com,Wildes bar Galway, Loafers bar Cork, Dubarrys bar Belfast, The George, Dublin, Westmeath, Kildare, Central Bar,Strabane, South Tipperary, Waterford, Galway and Cork.
The Ikonics
Leading Irish bands Element, Elle D, Ikonics, and soloists Steve Martyn and Karl Dawson will top the entertainment bill in a three round event hosted by TV3’s Andrea Hayes and Conor Clear.
The contestants will face a weekend of intense activity including formal interviews, be briefed by community groups including G Force – the gay gardai group, Ireland’s Mr Gay World winner Max Krzyzanowski, and the beneficiary of their charity fundraising St James Hospital.
The stage show will have a club wear and formal wear section and in the final round the guys will model the designs from Bone Wear South Africa’s leading underwear and swimwear designers www.bonewear.co.za.
For further details please contact Brian on 087 6573732 check out our online voting on www.mrgayireland.ie, our MrGay Ireland Facebook page or book online tickets (15 euros) on www.gaytheatre.ie