Connacht Tribune
Galwayman fulfils Mr Gay Ireland ambition on cusp of his 30th birthday
Approaching the big three-O has one young Galway man ticking ambitions off his bucket list – and this weekend sees him fulfil one of the biggest of them…representing the county in the Mr Gay Ireland competition in Cork.
Darragh J. Mullooly, who is originally from Sligo but based in Galway for many years, has two reasons for taking part; one is that he always wanted to take part in what he jokingly calls the gay version of the Rose of Tralee.
BY SHEILA BEGLEY
But he also wants to use this to raise funds for two causes close to his heart – homelessness in Galway and a pioneering treatment for those living with HIV.
The latter sees him – and all of the other finalists – working for the Newfill Service at St. James’ Hospital Dublin.
Newfill is a reconstructive treatment to combat the effects of the antiretroviral medication used to treat HIV. This medicine can cause ‘facial wastage’ through a loss of facial fat, and consequently, can be highly upsetting for patients.
Aside from the merely physical benefits, the Newfill treatment can enhance patients’ quality of living – and has been proven to improve adherence to therapy.
But the Newfill clinic receives no public funding, and St. James’ is the only hospital in Ireland which is able to provide the treatment at no cost to patients.
The 29-year-old, who has also worked as a journalist, additionally wanted to shed light on the homelessness crisis in Galway and in doing so he spent last Tuesday night sleeping rough, to experience just a little of what it’s like to go without anything for a day.
“I didn’t really feel like I was homeless because I knew I had a home to go to, at the end of the day,” Darragh explained.
“Homelessness is something you can’t simulate unless you are in that situation. I did however, get a taste of what it’s like to have nowhere to go.”
He now understands what it feels like to have people treat you like you are invisible.
“I was shocked to see how many people actually walked by me without a second glance.”
“Without this competition, I wouldn’t have had such an amazing platform to draw attention to these two very worthy causes – homelessness in Galway and treatment for those living with HIV,” he added.
And after that experience, Darragh is now concentrating on representing his adoptive Galway in the twelfth annual Mr Gay Ireland Competition which takes place in Cork city this Saturday.
Slowly approaching his big birthday, Darragh has always wanted to get involved in this competition and he is delighted to be able to tick it off the bucket list.
“So, I thought why not do it before I’m 30?” Darragh said.
The chief organiser of the event is Brian Merriman and Darragh is competing with six other contestants from around the country for the title.
“There is Mr Gay Galway, Mr Gay Limerick, Mr Gay Cork, somebody representing Swords and the others are representing Dublin City.”
“We will have interviews with the judges and also a one minute speech about something we are passionate about – and I’m going to keep that a surprise,” Darragh laughed, before explaining the attire for the evening.
“There’s a formal wear round, then there’s a causal wear round and a swimwear round.”
Darragh has been delighted and overjoyed with the support he has received from the straight community here in Ireland – something he didn’t expect.
“It’s not something that crossed my mind. I knew the gay community were going to support me. But I didn’t think that the straight community would be so supportive of me which has been amazing,” he added.
As with all competitions the eye is on the prize, something Darragh knows all too well. He will be using his meditation tricks to keep himself calm on the night but he has spoken about what it would mean to him if he were to win the title.
“I think the title will give to me a voice for the gay community here in Ireland. I’m really passionate about empowering younger gay men because when I was a teenager gay people weren’t always out,” he said.
“When I was younger, I didn’t really have a strong gay role mode. So, I would love to be that for younger gay people,” he added.
■ If anyone would like to contribute to the fundraising cause they can find the link to do so at: www.youcaring.com/theguideclinicstjamesshspital-762064
Significant state investment is required to address ‘shocking’ inequalities that leave cancer patients in the West at greater risk of succumbing to the disease.
A meeting of Regional Health Forum West heard that survival rates for breast, lung and colorectal cancers than the national average, and with the most deprived quintile of the population, the West’s residents faced poorer outcomes from a cancer diagnosis.
For breast cancer patients, the five-year survival rate was 80% in the West versus 85% nationally; for lung cancer patients it was 16.7% in the west against a 19.5% national survival rate; and in the West’s colorectal cancer patients, there was a 62.6% survival rate where the national average was 63.1%.
These startling statistics were provided in answer to a question from Ballinasloe-based Cllr Evelyn Parsons (Ind) who said it was yet another reminder that cancer treatment infrastructure in the West was in dire need of improvement.
“The situation is pretty stark. In the Western Regional Health Forum area, we have the highest incidence of deprivation and the highest health inequalities because of that – we have the highest incidences of cancer nationally because of that,” said Cllr Parsons, who is also a general practitioner.
In details provided by CEO of Saolta Health Care Group, which operates Galway’s hospitals, it was stated that a number of factors were impacting on patient outcomes.
Get the full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now, or you can download the digital edition from www.connachttribune.ie. You can also download our Connacht Tribune App from Apple’s App Store or get the Android Version from Google Play.
Galway 3-18
Cork 1-10
NEW setting; new opposition; new challenge. It made no difference to the Galway minor hurlers as they chalked up a remarkable sixth consecutive double digits championship victory at Semple Stadium on Saturday.
The final scoreline in Thurles may have been a little harsh on Cork, but there was no doubting Galway’s overall superiority in setting up only a second-ever All-Ireland showdown against Clare at the same venue on Sunday week.
Having claimed an historic Leinster title the previous weekend, Galway took a while to get going against the Rebels and also endured their first period in a match in which they were heavily outscored, but still the boys in maroon roll on.
Beating a decent Cork outfit by 14 points sums up how formidable Galway are. No team has managed to lay a glove on them so far, and though Clare might ask them questions other challengers haven’t, they are going to have to find significant improvement on their semi-final win over 14-man Kilkenny to pull off a final upset.
Galway just aren’t winning their matches; they are overpowering the teams which have stood in their way. Their level of consistency is admirable for young players starting off on the inter-county journey, while the team’s temperament appears to be bombproof, no matter what is thrown at them.
Having romped through Leinster, Galway should have been a bit rattled by being only level (0-4 each) after 20 minutes and being a little fortunate not to have been behind; or when Cork stormed out of the blocks at the start of the second half by hitting 1-4 to just a solitary point in reply, but there was never any trace of panic in their ranks.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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GARDAÍ and the IFA have issued a joint appeal to all road users to take extra care as the silage season gets under way across the country.
Silage harvesting started in many parts of Galway last week – and over the coming month, the sight of tractors and trailers on rural roads will be getting far more frequent.
Inspector Conor Madden, who is in charge of Galway Roads Policing, told the Farming Tribune that a bit of extra care and common-sense from all road users would go a long way towards preventing serious collisions on roads this summer.
“One thing I would ask farmers and contractors to consider is to try and get more experienced drivers working for them.
“Tractors have got faster and bigger – and they are also towing heavy loads of silage – so care and experience are a great help in terms of accident prevention,” Inspector Madden told the Farming Tribune.
He said that tractor drivers should always be aware of traffic building up behind them and to pull in and let these vehicles pass, where it was safe to do so.
“By the same token, other road users should always exercise extra care; drive that bit slower; and ‘pull in’ that bit more, when meeting tractors and heavy machinery.
“We all want to see everyone enjoying a safe summer on our roads – that extra bit of care, and consideration for other roads users can make a huge difference,” said Conor Madden.
He also advised motorists and tractor drivers to be acutely aware of pedestrians and cyclists on the roads during the summer season when more people would be out walking and cycling on the roads.
The IFA has also joined in on the road safety appeal with Galway IFA Farm Family and Social Affairs Chair Teresa Roche asking all road users to exercise that extra bit of care and caution.
“We are renewing our annual appeal for motorists to be on the look out for tractors, trailers and other agricultural machinery exiting from fields and farmyards,” she said.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Families queue up for school’s offer of free house
West has lower cancer survival rates than rest
Galway minors continue to lay waste to all opponents
Gardaí and IFA issue a joint appeal on summer road safety
Marathon Man plans to call a halt – but not before he hits 160 races
