The idea of anyone deeming Joe Dolan a sex symbol is, to put it delicately, profoundly disturbing. So, you can imagine the rumpus at the Mullingar Bachelor Festival when a particularly scorching performance by the midlands yowler provoked a near riot, with dozens of inflamed ladies literally banging down his door.
Festival president Graham McCullogh recounted how he was reduced to a quivering heap as the mob of Dolan-philes accosted him outside the great man's dressing room, demanding immediate entrance. When politely informed that Joe was busy taking a shower, their ardour threatened to froth over into full blown anarchy.
The rest of the week went rather more smoothly. At sponsor Guinness's charmingly earthy corporate headquarters on Wednesday, this year's gaggle of wannabe bachelors had a drink with last year's victor, New York bank clerk Joe Connolly. Joe told us that, while the title didn't exactly supercharge his Manhattan financial career, it came in handy when it came to getting free pints at the weekend.
Among the 1999 crop, German Andre Neudeck seemed most confused as to what exactly was going on. Was he really expected to smile all the time, he asked Ulster rose . . . sorry, bachelor Cathal Brennan. Yes, was the answer. But look on the bright side - locals plying you with drink all week. Andre wasn't convinced.
