At home with the Dowling-Gourounlians: Brian and Arthur on family life after the birth of baby Blu

Brian Dowling and Arthur Gourounlian talk family life with Rebecca Daly just three weeks after the birth of baby Blu

Brian Dowling and Arthur Gourounlian: judges for this year’s prestigious Barberstown Castle Sapphire Style Award. Picture: Emily Quinn

People always say that your second baby is the one that causes trouble, but this hasn’t been the case so far for Brian Dowling and Arthur Gourounlian.

The pair welcomed daughter Blu Amar Rose on June 23 and have been finding their feet as dads of two. Luckily for them however, it hasn’t been too different to their first — Blake — who was born in September 2022.

“Her and Blake have two things in common: They like to sleep and they like food,” Dowling says. “When she was born, she looked the image of Blake, we couldn’t believe it.”

Blu has been sleeping well — four or five hours a night — and they say they’ve gotten “another quiet, relaxed, super chill baby”.

Upon the first meeting, Blake wasn’t too sure about this new baby in their house.

“She wasn’t having it,” Gourounlian says. “I think she was very confused, [as if] to say, ‘Who are you? Why are you here?’. But now, honestly, even after the next day, she’s so gentle. [She’s] caressing her head, trying to touch her very gently. I think she understands this little person here is staying, going nowhere, so [she’s] got no choice.”

Brian Dowling and Arthur Gourounlian. Picture: Emily Quinn

When it came to choosing a name, Dowling says: “I always liked Blu for a boy or a girl. It was between Blu and Bailey, and then I remember thinking I knew a lot of people that had dogs called Bailey...”

Amar is an Armenian word that translates to “summer”, which was the perfect fit for their June baby. Both sisters also have Rose as a middle name, as an ode to Dowling’s mother Rosie, who passed away in 2018.

Even though their new arrival is not even one month old yet, the pair are saying “never say never” to another baby in the future.

Blu and Blake were born through surrogacy, with Dowling’s sister Aoife carrying them. Since the birth, she is recovering well and told the couple she felt great because she wasn’t the one looking after the baby.

Gourounlian says Aoife is their hero: “It’s been, again, so amazing. What she’s done for us, it’s incredible. And, you know, just going through everything that a woman goes through having a baby.

“And for her to do that, especially not [for] her kids, it’s been just beautiful.”

'ADAMANT TO ARRIVE INTO THE WORLD'

When the conversation about having another baby arose, Aoife said she wanted to have a C-section, as she had done with Blake. As is often the case, this didn’t go to plan. 

While Blu was due on the fourth of July, Aoife went into labour after having her breakfast on June 23 and her waters broke at the hospital.

“It all happened really quickly. Blu was adamant to arrive into the world earlier than planned,” Dowling says.

If they do go again, they will be exploring other avenues rather than asking Aoife as they say it’s time for her to concentrate on her own life. 

In a recent Instagram post, her brother even wrote that it was now time to get her onto the dating site Tinder.

Arthur Gourounlian: "No matter what you go through in life, days are coming and going. There’s always going to be morning and there’s always going to be evening. They’re not waiting for you" Picture: Emily Quinn

Dowling finished up his work commitments just two days before Blu’s arrival, while Gourounlian is keeping some freelance projects on the go.

Though having more time to settle into being parents to a newborn again, the couple know just how fickle their industry can be, which means keeping their work options open is a must.

“You don’t get any younger in our business. You never know how long it’s going to last,” Gourounlian says. “One minute, you’re hot. One minute, that’s it. ‘Thank you so much. Goodbye’.

“You really have to take everything that comes to you and enjoy the ride.”

Being married, having two children and living together doesn’t put them off working together either. In the past, they have produced a documentary and book about their modern family. In the future, they wouldn’t rule out presenting together.

“People always say, ‘oh my god, you could be the gay Ant and Dec’,” Dowling says. “We want to be the gay Richard and Judy.”

Gourounlian is hopeful he’ll make a return to RTÉ’s Dancing With The Stars in the New Year for his fourth run on the show as a judge alongside Brian Redmond and Loraine Barry.

“I’m crossing every finger I have on my body. I’m so privileged, I’ve done three seasons. Never in a million years would I have thought I’d be doing three seasons. And when — I’m not saying if — when, hopefully, I get that phone call [that] they want me back, hallelujah. I’ll be delighted.”

Dowling says: “How could they not ask you to do it?”

Brian Dowling: “People always say, ‘oh my god, you could be the gay Ant and Dec’,” Dowling says. “We want to be the gay Richard and Judy.” Picture: Emily Quinn

STRIKING A SOCIAL-MEDIA BALANCE

The pair have a big following on social media, almost half a million combined followers on Instagram, but they don’t let that phase them.

For Gourounlian, he says he loves having fun with social media: “I remember before social media, I used to have a camera stuck to my hands when I was touring.

“I always loved momentum, creativity, and with social media, because it comes naturally to me. I know it sounds very arrogant but I know what I want to post.

“I love social media. And I’m not going to sit here and lie to you. I do love it and you know, I enjoy doing it.”

Arthur Gourounlian: "Don’t play it safe. I am not a safe person." Picture: Emily Quinn

Dowling says he never feels pressured to post anything online, but if he does post, it’s always something fun.

“I believe social media is the best bits of your 24 hours, so I feel it should be fun, it should be positive. It allows you to be vulnerable and to be honest.”

It also gives them a very special platform, as two gay men with children, and allows them to show the public just how normal their lives are.

That being said, there will always be some negativity. Under a recent photo of Aoife, an Instagram user asked “how dare” Dowling share it, as his sister was in her underwear. Prior to posting any photo, he will always get permission from those involved.

“That’s where social media is 90% great. There is that 10% where you’re a bit like, ‘people need to calm down’.”

This positive outlook on life is something Dowling says he has had to work on as he was always a realist, given the nature of show business. Following the loss of his mother however, his mindset has shifted.

Brian Dowling: “I believe social media is the best bits of your 24 hours, so I feel it should be fun, it should be positive. It allows you to be vulnerable and to be honest.” Picture: Emily Quinn

SEIZE THE DAY

Gourounlian, who Dowling says has always had a “way more uplifting and more positive” outlook, says he likes to get out of bed as soon as he wakes up to seize the day.

“No matter what you go through in life, days are coming and going. There’s always going to be morning and there’s always going to be evening. They’re not waiting for you,” he says.

Both men have been named VIP’s Most Stylish Man in recent years so it seems only fitting for them to judge the 2024 Barberstown Castle Sapphire Style Award.

The event, which takes place at the Curragh this weekend, is the only job Dowling has on for the summer but he says: “Listen, is it work? Not really. We get our hair and makeup done, well, I get the makeup done.

“I get to wear a gorgeous outfit. I go to the races.”

Gourounlian adds: “And you’re staring at fabulous people who are dressed head-to-toe in fashion galore. I love it.”

This is the second year in-a-row the couple have judged the award, and one aspect they loved from last year was sustainability, with some attendees wearing pre-loved and re-worn outfits or hand-me-downs from their parents.

So, what will they be looking for in a winner?

Arthur Gourounlian: "Fashion, it’s a personality. You describe who you are and if you [are] actually wearing just a ‘blah’ aspect, it’s not going to sell it." Picture: Emily Quinn

For Gourounlian, it’s someone stepping out of their comfort zone and embracing it: “I always say this, I know it sounds very cliche, but really reaching outside the box. Don’t play it safe. I am not a safe person.

“Because fashion, it’s a personality. You describe who you are and if you [are] actually wearing just a ‘blah’ aspect, it’s not going to sell it.”

Dowling agrees: “You kind of have to step into it and own it.”

Creativity is also a massive part of a successful outfit, as he explains: “Anyone that’s there and that gets a wristband to the top 10, there is always a story behind the outfit.

“And I always think the story behind your look is as important as the look itself.”

“And if you’re feeling nervous,” Dowling jokes, “Just neck a glass of champagne!”

The Dowling-Gourounlians are looking forward to the rest of the summer to spend time with their children, as well as Gourounlian’s mother, who came over this week to see the new arrival.

Almost as if they knew their dads would be free to play with them again, Blu and Blake wake up from their naps just as our conversation ends.

• Brian Dowling and Arthur Gourounlian are judges for this year’s prestigious Barberstown Castle Sapphire Style Award at The Irish Oaks Weekend on Saturday, July 20. For more information see barberstowncastle.ie