Crossgar’s Patrick bids for Mr. Gay Ireland title

Crossgar’s Patrick bids for Mr. Gay Ireland title

16 October 2013

A CROSSGAR man is preparing to compete for the title of Mr Gay Ireland this month.

Twenty-five year-old hairdresser Patrick Murdock is taking part in the competition for the first time and he has made the final in Dublin’s Arlington Hotel on Sunday, October 27.

Patrick has already made his way through an online audition and a County Down heat to reach the final.

Speaking about how he became involved in the competition Patrick said several months ago he was approached by last year’s winner Connor O’Kane, from Strabane.

“I will be against 18 people; it will be a big competition,” he said. “At the final you have to answer a few questions and then you have to model in formal wear and then there is an underwear stage.

“The modelling is judged on what you look like and your personality as well.

“It is really judged by the audience and this year there is online voting as well.

“I am slightly nervous about it. I may need a few drinks before the underwear stage.

“There are dress rehearsals on the Saturday then you go on ahead and do the competition on the Sunday,” he said.

Along with the competition all of the men involved have to raise money for the chosen charity for the event.

This year the competitors are raising money for the NewFill project in St. James Hospital, Dublin, which supports sufferers of HIV and AIDS.

“I was approached as I do a lot of charity work, for charities such as Alzheimer’s and Nexus, which is for children suffering sexual abuse,” said Patrick.

“I have done a few things and the next night is a charity pamper night in Crossgar, held in a private residence. That will be held about a week from the competition.

“I am a hairdresser. A girl from Downpatrick will do the make-up and another girl from Crossgar will do the nails.

“We put the event on Facebook and along with word of mouth we have plenty of people going. “There is no target sum to raise, but I would like to raise about £500.

“Whatever we raise on the Friday night should put us past the £500 mark, but we don’t want to raise our hopes ahead of it,” he said.

Patrick is taking part in the competition for the charitable side of the event, to have some fun and he hopes to make County Down and Northern Ireland proud along the way: “I don’t mind if anyone wants to contact me on Facebook about the competition, or to donate,” he said.

Vote for Patrick on www.mrgayireland.ie or to make a donation visit his Facebook page www.facebook.com/pbmurdock