Did you know that the definition of a gay man in Ireland is a man who prefers the company of women to alcohol? In other words a man who seems to prefer talking to women on a night out is said to be gay, whereas a man who never goes near a woman, but clings to the bar for dear life, proves his masculinity in gulps and swallows with every pint he downs.

But, while we might like to blame men for their Neanderthal, pint supping, women shunning ways, we women of the West, will probably find, if we do a bit of self-probing, that it is a stereotype not just reinforced by men but by women too, who, let it be said, sometimes shun any softness in our male counterparts, even apparent interest.

How often have you heard it said, 'Ah, he's nice but he's a bit too keen'? Translation, his persistence in chasing you, has mutated into desperation once mixed with your perfume. Add to that any obvious/odious indication of interest, such as a compliment or, heaven forbid, a chat up line and the poor fellas don't stand a chance.

Because at the end of the day, men may love the chase but women sometimes can not help falling for the man who denounces the chase as a cruel, pointless blood sport. We can't help craving a bit of ambivalence and/or downright apparent lack of interest on occasion. How very Mr Darcy. How very attractive, say we.

At the end of the day, women in the West like their men rugged, which should bode well for Galway men, except that in an age of mass migration from the East many have mutated into cocktail drinking, striped shirt wearing, women pursuers that we sometimes find tedious.

If this theory proves correct, it could account for the high number of single women in this city. Men glued to the bar and therefore male company, while women in the lounge, sitting pretty, bemoan the fact that there are no eligible men. Never the twain shall meet.

So what's to be done to cross the male/female divide? Well if the Galway race is to survive, someone is going to have to stage a comedown. Either women will have to take to the sup, or real men will have to find a masculine way to bridge the gap. Answers on a postcard, please, or to our forum at http://www.galwayindependent.com.

Post edited by: content2, at: 2008/04/02 12:40