2009

At the September 2008 Outwest disco in Murtagh's Nightclub in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, nine contestants took part in a competition to choose "Mr Gay OutWest 2009", to represent Outwest in the Mr Gay Ireland finals to be held in Dublin on the bank-holiday weekend at the end of October 2008.

Photos from the competition in Carrick-on-Shannon can be found here.

In the face of fierce competition Derwin Brennan (pictured left) from Co. Roscommon was chosen to represent Outwest - and even though he did not win in the Mr Gay Ireland Finals, he did Outwest proud on the night!

Derwin will be the official face of Outwest until the new "Mr Gay OutWest 2010" is chosen in the latter part of 2009.

Fundraising - The Mr Gay Ireland Charity

Each year contestants for the Mr Gay Ireland finals are asked to raise funds in support of the charity that the Mr Gay Ireland organisers have chosen for that particular year (usually an HIV/AIDS related charity).

This year the charity chosen by the Mr Gay Ireland organisers was the "New Fill" project, run by Saint James' Hospital in Dublin. This charity helps pay for collagen injections into the face of long term HIV-positive individuals.*

Two fund-raising events were run by Outwest and Derwin to help raise funds on behalf of the New Fill project. These were a table-quiz, held in the Melting Pot Cafe, Roscommon Town, on Friday 17 October 2008, and a sponsored 8k walk to the Carrowkeel megalithic passage tombs in the Bricklieve Mountains near Castlebaldwin in County Sligo, on Sunday, 19 October 2008.

In spite of the fact that each event was organised at very short notice, the grand sum of 850 euro was raised over the two events. A huge thank-you to all who took part!

Some photos from the sponsored walk are now online, and can be viewed here.

Plans are already afoot for two similar Outwest fund-raising events later this year (2009) to raise funds for this year's Mr Gay Ireland nominated charity. Latest information on these Outwest events can be found here.

* The drug regime that long term HIV-positive individuals have to endure in order to prolong their lives tends to lead to a wasting of the muscles - particularly of the face, causing the cheeks to become hollow and gaunt. The New Fill project provides funding for collogen injections (which cost hundreds of euros each) to help 'fill out' the face, helping the person to feel better about themselves and more confident.