A guide to the gays in the Irish presidential race.

Posted on Sunday, August 07, 2011 at 11:12 AM

Larger Text

E-mail

5 Comments

RSS

Archives

Never have so many Gays competed for the same job in Ireland.

But first you must know that Gay is an abbreviation of Gabriel and long before gay became the in-term to describe gays, Irish men called Gabriel often had their names shortened to gay.

So, if you were still with me, here is an idiot's guide.

Gay Mitchelll, the candidate of the ruling Fine Gay(le) party -just kidding Fine Gael --. Not favorable to gays in general and seen as a right wing Catholic candidate.

Gay Byrne (1) Former national television host of the incredibly popular' Late Late Show' which broke the mould in Irish politics.

He is now 77 but still a powerful force in Irish life and is considering running for president.

Gay Byrne (2) that would be actor Gabriel Byrne, who the Sunday Independent newspaper has urged to run. He is better known as Gabriel however and has given no indication of interest.

David Norris,(pictured), whose name is not Gay but is gay if you follow what I mean. He has been forced to withdraw after revelations he wrote letter in support of a sex offender in Israel.

The word gay for gays has actually been around a long time, the 1635 Oxford Dictionary has a reference to it and the term 'Gay Blade' was used widely in the 19th century.

Will Ireland end up with a gay president one way or another? Who can tell?

After all Britain have a senior opposition leader called Ed Balls so who knows.

Luckily his first name wasn't Gabriel.

Listen to Niall O’Dowd on Ireland’s Newstalk 106 on In Discussion with Eamon Dunphy here (31st July and 7th August)

E-mail

5 comments

Page 1 of 1 pages

Toronthab | Aug 08, 2011, 10:16 AM EDT

I had posted points from the Danish Registry study of 2006 showing that homosexual attraction is very highly correlated to divorce and other aspects of marital instability. It seems evidence that one is not 'just born that way' naturally is deemed inappropriate for some reason. What about the adolescents at risk this very moment of suffering gender identity disorders? An unfortunate collateral damage? The cost of business as usual?

Report abuse

themurphia | Aug 08, 2011, 06:49 AM EDT

Now that motormouth has outed one of Norris' campaign team perhaps Barnardos should be alerted to the fact that he was a campaigner for someone who campaigned for a convicted rapist of an underage boy...

Report abuse

Towngate | Aug 07, 2011, 01:35 PM EDT

Niall,a chara: Very droll! Although he was passed over in favour of O'Higgins,my man can be included on lexicographical grounds: Fer-G-us Finl-AY , the head of Barnardos is the perfect choice. He can combine both jobs and make better use of 'The Aras' by filling up all that empty space in the former British Vice-Regal Lodge as a safe haven for children in his care. All it would need would be for the party to realise its calamitous clanger of choosing O'Hobbit O'Higgins over him.

Report abuse

themurphia | Aug 07, 2011, 11:49 AM EDT

How about Morgan Kelly...an academic Economist the only one prepared to tell it how it was...and an honest broker...This Election is turning into a monumental farce...how long before someone suggests Dustin the Turkey for the Aras? No jokes about ventriloquists/glove puppets thank you...!

Report abuse

themurphia | Aug 07, 2011, 10:57 AM EDT

Very whimsical Mr O'Dowd...seem to be a lot of Gays in de village alright...Gabriel Byrne would be good/looking...I think Odd Balls has enough on his plate without a comedy first as well as second name...I thought GAY was an abbreviation probably American in origin of 'Good As You' from pre gender equality days...hence why I capitalise it...?

Report abuse

Page 1 of 1 pages