Frankie pledges to uphold culchie values

WEST CLARE man Frankie Davis pledges to do his utmost to keep alive what makes us distinctly Irish.

Over the next 12 months, the reigning National Culchie champion aims to use his influence to good effect.

“I’ll do my very best to promote the cultural activities of Ireland, try to keep the traditions alive, keep the old and the new going.

“There’s a lot out there that the younger generation mightn’t know about and mightn’t ever see. We’ll try and keep that alive,” said Frankie.

From Carnane, a mile outside Doolin on the road to the Cliffs of Moher, Frankie will be 44 in early December. He works for a company that specialises in rock drilling. Rules for the contest are just two - no Dubliners and no females - though women judge the entrants and act as their escorts.

National Culchie Festival organiser Paddy Rock said Frankie was “a clear winner” from among 14 contestants who travelled to Lisselton village in north Kerry for the fun weekend.

The Culchie event, now in its 15th year, aims to promote romance in its widest sense and offer a male alternative to the better-known Rose of Tralee.

No better ambassador than Frankie to promote the romantic ideal. He met the woman in his life, Lou Ward, in Willie Daly’s pub. Frankie was a barman and Lou was visiting from America. Willie, the famed matchmaker, made the introductions.

Sporting an eye-catching outfit that recalled the countryside of a different era, Lou’s man wowed the female judging panel - which included Gay Byrne’s daughter Crona Carney, just back from her honeymoon in Cuba.

Unlike other contests that marry fame and fortune, there’s no financial reward from being top culchie. “It’s not about money,” insisted Frankie. “There’s more to life than money,” he said.