No Dubs or women need apply to take Culchie test

STRICTLY no Dubs and absolutely no women.

Only the annual Culchie Festival with its blatantly discriminatory rules could escape the watchful eyes of the Equality Authority without fear of reprimand.

The 13th staging of the popular event will take place on October 25-28 in Fethard, Co Tipperary for the second year in a row.

Over 20 bucksome lads including the first-ever entrant from the US, Vince Reid from Wisconsin will compete for the coveted title of Culchie of the Year 2002.

Billed as the thinking and drinking man's equivalent of the Rose of Tralee festival, competitors will be asked to undertake a variety of tasks to prove their true sense of quintessential Irish culture.

Among the challenges facing contestants are tests of skill at welly-throwing, nappy-changing, knitting, sandwich-making, potato-picking and singing karaoke.

Proceeds from various events will be donated to the Arthritis Foundation of Ireland, while culchies compete for the coveted top prize of a jacket, gold cufflinks, a bag of spuds and a new pair of wellies.

According to festival organiser, Paddy Rock, the ultimate winner can also look forward to a schedule of public appearances that includes "opening silage pits and naming donkeys".

Last year's Culchie of the Year, 28-year-old Ken Lee, a sales rep and small farmer from Fethard is uncertain whether he will be allowed to try and retain his crown or strictly speaking, his tweed cap.

"The important thing is not to mind making a fool of yourself. The other thing is you have to be in need of a good wife," he laughed.

Details of this year's Culchie Festival were revealed in the alien territory of downtown Dublin yesterday as a daring group of rustics unveiled the new Culchie Throne a rusty toilet on a busy city centre street. A true case of rural cheek competing against urban chic.