Eamonn seeks his Mr Right

Galway dance teacher, Eamonn Cunniss unashamedly describes himself as a male diva. He talks to Dearbhla Acheson

Former Miss Alternative Ireland Eamonn Cunniss, familiar from his appearance on Eddie Hobb’s Show me the Money and for his almost nationwide social dancing classes, says that at the moment, he’s married to his business but wants to fill the lonely gap in his life with a long-term male partner.
“Hopefully, my Mr Right will come along. I don’t want to be alone for the rest of my life. It is hard being gay because not everyone accepts us. That’s why so many gay men don’t come out. They are gay but they don’t want everyone to know, so they lead a double life, possibly marrying and having kids and all but secretly having short-term gay relationships on the side. There are a number of men I know here in Clare who are gay but they are in heterosexual relationships because they know that it is viewed as more ‘acceptable’. I have a bond with them but they don’t want to be seen out with me in case people realise they are gay,” Eamonn said.
He explained that he was in a relationship for a number of years but it ended last year.
“I am lonely since then and I would love another relationship. But I’m not interested in one-night stands. I want the real deal. Walks and meals and someone that I’ll have a real bond with. Someone to share a bottle of wine and long conversations with. I am looking for a new partner, preferably a country guy, a rural Clare man, over 40, preferably someone with a trade and someone who is handy around the house. I love getting attention. I am a diva. I’m a gay man and I’m very fussy. I have very high standards and am particular about attention to detail. Any guy who goes out with me needs to be aware of that because I admit I’m high maintenance in a relationship,” he added.
Eamonn went on, “The cross I have to bear is that I’ll never have kids, so my thing is to pass on my gift (dancing) to others. For the moment, I’m married to my business but I’m looking for someone else to share my life with. A few gay men come to my classes but I haven’t found that Mr Right yet.”
And while Eamonn admits he feels a sense of sadness that he’ll never be a father, he doesn’t feel it would be right for a gay male couple to bring up a child.
“I don’t feel it’s right for two gay men to raise/adopt a child because I think for balance that a child needs a parent of each sex. While I’d love a long-term relationship, I don’t want to be a parent to a child with another man. Maybe it’s right for others but not for me,” he said.
For the moment, Eamonn will continue to throw himself into his business venture. He is due to recommence his social dancing classes in the Ennis area next week and is delighted that there is even more demand for the classes now than in previous years.
Eamonn lives in Bohermore in Galway city. He is a former All-Ireland champion dancer in all forms of Irish dance. His hobby became a business venture after he was approached by people in An Púcán Bar in Galway.
“I used to dance during gigs for my own enjoyment. People loved to watch me dance but they found my steps very fancy. Some people started asking me to teach them to dance. And eventually, it was suggested to me that I give dance classes. Most of those who asked me about learning to dance wanted to learn how to waltz properly,” he explained.
His father, Michael, agreed that he could use his stables, which were idle at the time, as the base for the dance classes.
“So we put down a timber floor and advertised in the local paper for social dance classes. On the first night in 2001, 10 people turned up. Within a few weeks there were 100 people coming regularly to the class, more than I ever expected. What began as a hobby turned into a business venture overnight. I pinpointed Mayo, Galway and Clare, three areas that I saw were the home of dancing. Mayo is the home of social dancing and Clare is the home of set dancing, with Galway in between, so I thought there would be a demand for the classes there. I spotted a niche in the market,” Eamonn remarked.
At the time, he had no car but his father helped him out again by driving him to some of the class venues.
“I got the bus at other times. I’d get on the bus at about 4 o’clock with my little bag, which contained three or four CDs, a CD player I bought for £100 and my ballroom dancing shoes. I’d have two classes a night, three nights a week. Monday in Galway, Tuesday in Ennis and Wednesday in Castlebar,” he explained.
Then, in 2005, he decided to step it up a gear. “I got my website up and running and registered as a company. From 1998 to 2003, I won the All-Ireland for open and social dancing. Social dancing is waltzing, jiving, quick step, foxtrot, all for social occasions – what someone does at a wedding or a social event.”
A mixed group of people come to the classes and for varying reasons.
“A lot of wedding couples come for about four to five weeks so that they can dance properly together for their reception, especially for their first dance. Then there are couples who have retired who want to dance to improve their steps and to stay fit. Also, single people who come to socialise and hook up with someone so I’m also described as something of a matchmaker. I have brought people together at the classes and some have ended up going out. Two of these couples have since married so that is another aspect of the classes,” Eamonn said.
He believes that part of the draw of his social dancing classes is an escape from loneliness.
“People these days are very lonely. There is a huge element of social isolation, so I offer a fun, social event, as well as learning to dance. That’s why I do it. A lot of the people who come to the classes are widows and widowers and the classes bring them out of themselves again.”
His classes now are busier than ever and he believes that is due to the recession.
“I’ve been inundated with business during the doom and gloom of the recession. People want something lighthearted. The classes are pay per night so people can suit themselves how often they come,” he added.
Eamonn said that he loves the attention he gets from doing the classes and every night he dances, he feels like he’s on stage. “Essentially, I’m a performer and I love that whole scene,” he said.
And he truly is no stranger to the stage, given that he is a professional drag queen.
“I am a previous Alternative Miss Limerick and Alternative Miss Ireland. My alter ego name is Twirley Chassey and I perform versions of Patsy Cline, Shirley Bassey, Celine Dion and Bonnie Tyler numbers. I love that part of my life too,” Eamonn commented.
Eamonn has also entertained television audiences with his appearances on Show me the Money with Eddie Hobbs and on Nationwide a few years ago.