Model Nathan Adams has told us of his love for Donal Og Cusack
MEET the top male model who has won the heart of GAA legend and RTE pundit Donal Óg Cusack.
Nathan Adams, who was crowned ‘Mr Cork’ earlier this year, has exclusively revealed to the Sunday World that he has been dating the former Cork goalie for two months, and that the pair are madly in love.
Donal Óg made history in 2009 when he revealed he was gay ahead of the release of his best-selling autobiography, Come What May, making him the first Irish sports star to come out.
Since he had the courage to make the announcement, his brother and fellow Cork hurler Conor also came out.
The hurling supremo, a panelist for RTE’s Sunday Game, has never been publicly linked to anyone, but now we can reveal that he is dating one of the favourites to win the Mr Ireland title later this year.
Speaking to us at last week’s Miss Ireland final, the 20-year-old hunk revealed: “Myself and Donal have been dating for two months. And yes, we are in love.”
The revelation comes just months after Ireland became the first country in the world to hold a referendum to approve same-sex marriage.
The likeable businessman is well known in Cork thanks to his successful modelling career and his company Nathan Adams Promotions.
“I model full-time, which as a male model means about two or three jobs a week,” he laughed.
“That is why I have decided to set up my own company called Nathan Adams Promotions, which is an event management company. It is doing really well even though it has only been open a few months.”
Despite his lyrical Cork accent, Adams was actually born in Belfast.
Nathan is in a relationship with Donal Og, pu
“I was born and bred in Belfast, but at the age of 10 I moved to Cork with my mum and brother and I’ve been there ever since. I still have loads of friends and family up there and I work in Belfast all the time.”
Nathan was, understandably, unwilling to speak further about his relationship with Donal, who is working for RTE today covering the All-Ireland hurling final between Galway and Kilkenny but was happy to chat more about coming out earlier this year.
“I came out earlier this year to Attitude Magazine and on Facebook. It was something I had been thinking about for years so I just went big on it.
“You’re not going to believe this, but I just texted my mam. There wasn’t a big sit-down with her. I decided I would text her and a few close pals to tell them. Speaking afterwards she told me she was thrilled the way she found out.”
Luckily Nathan’s revelation didn’t result in any abuse.
“I have a great group of friends around me, like my team-mates in my hurling team. You would expect a macho environment like that to have a few lads who are not happy with one of their own coming out, but they were all brilliant. Now we joke about it all the time.”
“I lacked confidence at the time, but the amazing thing about modelling is that the more I did it the happier I became. And I quickly worked my way up to the top of the game. It helps that I am down in Cork. There are more male models in Dublin so eventually I may move up there.
“I could be doing anything from catwalk fashion shoots in shopping centres to topless shoots in the sea. It’s one of those industries that never provides the same job twice.
I’ve also done a load of commercials but I don’t know when they will be coming out. It could be before Christmas, or next year, or never. I have an amazing agent in Andrea Roche who has been brilliant for me since I joined.”
Now Nathan hopes to move on to the next level by becoming the next Mr Ireland.
“It is in the first week of November and I can’t wait. I really want it, if I’m being honest. I am working out a lot and doing as much work as I can to build up my experience.
“I have met a few of the other contestants and they are really nice blokes. Let’s just say I’m not as confident as I was when I won Mr Cork in January!”
Donal Óg’s autobiography won Irish Sports Book of the Year in 2009 and over the last six years the two-time-All Star has been one of the most public voices on gay rights.
Other sporting heroes to admit they are gay include his brother Conor, Cork footballer Valerie Mulcahy, former Leeds United winger Robbie Rogers, British diver Tom Daley and former Welsh rugby star Gareth Thomas.