(A crude caricature)
The messageboards have been humming since the Paul Galvin interview on the Late Late. Some of the more interesting reaction has come from non-sporting circles.
From poster Buzzoff! on QueerID.com - Irish Gay Scene & Community forum, under the topic 'Paul Galvin On The Late Late Show:
Did anyone else see the GAA player Paul Galvin on the Late Late Show tonight? I know very little about GAA & nehttp://www.balls.ie/wp-admin/post-new.phpver heard of him before but based on the interview he has to be gay. Big into fashion, prefers to go shopping to golf & has 60+ pairs of shoes, surely he cant be straight! He seems a very mixed up kinda guy so maybe he is trying to deal with it or is having trouble accepting he is gay, assuming he is.
Poster CrazyChic responded:
My gaydar was ringing of the scale he does not go to the usual Irish hangouts in NY his able to be his self ??? N those skinning jeans n top ;-))
A similar question was raised on the People's Republic of Cork messageboard, though in far more hostile tones.
Look- I know nothing about Paul Galvin or his personal life, nor do I care what he does in his own time. A lot of Irish people head to New York to escape the claustrophobia of home. A lot of Irish heterosexual men wear skinny-legged jeans. What we know for sure is this: the conjecture and opprobrium aimed in Galvin's direction since the interview says a lot about Ireland's expectations towards its athletes, especially in the GAA. (Admittedly, we lampooned Galvin's V-neck, but come on, it's so open, it's nearly a U-neck). I lived in Sweden for 9 months. Every man dresses like Paul Galvin. I almost feel like lauding his courage for admitting to reading The Sartorialist.
So we wholeheartedly endorse the era of the Irish Metrosexual Athlete, which Galvin officially ushered in last Friday. Somebody get Mickey Harte a manbag this Christmas.
