It’s time for Cork to get behind them.

Local Eurovision hopeful Bambie Thug is getting some heat from an unlikely detractor… and supporters are rising up in their defence.

Corkonians have been reacting to the news that a Galway-based priest has slammed our Bambie… from the pulpit at Sunday mass, no less.

Speaking about Macroom performer Bambie Ray Robinson, aka Bambie Thug, Ireland’s choice for Eurovision glory in Malmö, Sweden on May 11th, Father Declan McInerney, parish priest of Eyrecourt, Clonfert, and Meelick in Galway said “the poor divil can neither sing nor dance”.

Oh and he wasn’t finished, he added that sending Bambi to represent us means “we are finished as a country”.

“Do we need somebody now to shove this orientation in our faces to get votes?” the priest continued, because nobody could stop him.

There was plenty more, but we’ve had enough of that for now.

They’re making sermons about bambie thug 😂

— theydie baba (@Bambiethug) February 5, 2024

Happily, the performer is taking the horrible comments with a pinch of salt: “They’re making sermons about Bambie Thug,” they posted on X, together with a well-placed laughing emoji.

‘A lack of empathy’

Speaking to The Opinionline on Cork’s 96fm today, LGBTQ+ ally from Cork Caz Koopman has defended Bambi Thug and criticised the “lack of understanding, compassion, and education out there when it comes to our LGBTQ+ siblings”.

“I just think it’s really sad that in 2024 we still have people who want to target other people for simply existing,” added Kaz.

“There’s a lack of knowledge, a lack of compassion, a lack of empathy.

“I guarantee you there were people in that church who are not binary, who are not straight, and again they heard the message ‘you’re something to be disgusted with, you’re something to be ashamed of, you’re not okay, there’s something wrong with you. You’re taboo and you’re to be kept secret.

“The only message that those people needed to hear is ‘you’re enough, you’re exactly who you’re supposed to be, you’re worthy of love and respect and happiness, you should be treated with honour and respect, I see you, I accept you, I love you and there’s many, many more of us willing to lift you up than there is to tear you down.”

Our money is on Bambie to take home the Eurovision glory on the big night. And Fr McInerney might keep his nasty opinions closer to his vestments.