Young Southsider bids for top talent glory

A YOUNG Southsider who hopes to become an ambassador for the Irish gay community is taking part in a nationwide talent contest next week.

Patrick Beary (26), who is originally from County Wexford but is currently living in Kilmainham, won the Mr Front Lounge competition in early September.

As a result he qualified as a finalist for the Mr Gay Ireland competition, which takes place at the Arlington Hotel on Bachelor’s Walk on Sunday, October 28.

Mr Gay Ireland 2013 is an all island project that is aimed at promoting the self-esteem of young gay men. It also raises awareness about safe sex and each contestant fundraises for a new HIV service at St James’s Hospital.

The competition is run by a group of volunteers from the International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival Ltd, a registered non-profit company.

Patrick explained that Mr Gay Ireland is a well rounded competition that judges contestants not only on their personalities and looks but also on their knowledge of political and socio economic issues.

How contestants carry themselves in the fashion modelling round of the contest will also be taken into account.

Members of the public can also vote for their chosen contestants on the mrgayireland.ie website and the competition judges will have to take the public vote into account when choosing a winner.

“You are judged on your personality and how friendly you are,

? Patrick said.

“There is a fashion round as well. Your ability to fundraise for the HIV charity at St James’s Hospital is also taken into consideration.

“You are asked to talk about any current topic of your choice to illustrate your understanding of modern day politics and socio economic issues.

?

Patrick believes that if he won he would be a good ambassador for the gay community in Ireland because of his many friendships.

“I want to win it because there is a broad cross section of gay people within the community and I think I am good at representing each one of those,

? he added.

“I am very personable as well. I have friends in the transgender community. I have friends in the gay and lesbian community. I can relate to a lot of them.

?

However, he said that one of the most important aspects of the competition was fundraising.

“I am doing a lot of fundraising at the moment,

? he said.

“I am organising a charity night in the Front Lounge with a cover charge and raffle. A friend of mine is also doing a charity photo-shoot.

“Another friend of mine is a fitness instructor and he is doing a few classes and the proceeds of that will also go to the charity.

?

Anyone who wants to vote in the competition can log on to www.mrgayireland.ie

Members of the public can vote on the competition until October 28.

Anyone who wants to contribute to Patrick’s fundraising efforts can log on to http://www.mycharity.ie/event/patrickbearysevent/