The public has voted a gay teacher, who was forced to protect her identity, and her partner as the winners of the #OpenToAll wedding contest on Newstalk.
‘Pixel’ and Caoimhe topped the poll with their lip-syncing video, followed by some tough competition from Corkonians Laura and Joe and Australia-based Irish couple Lou and Craig, who came in second and third place respectively. Over 26,000 votes were cast by the time the poll closed at 4.30pm today.
The winning couple were at the centre of a media storm over the past couple of days, after it was revealed that ‘Pixel’, as a gay teacher, needed to protect her career and was forced to pixelate her face in their video entry.
Watch their exclusive interview with Sean here:.
In an email to the Moncrieff Show, ‘Pixel’’s partner Caoimhe explained their decision to take the precaution: “’Pixel’ is a teacher in a Catholic school and, as such, subject to Section 37 of the Employment Equality Act, so the reality is that outing her publicly in this video could cost her her job.
Caoimhe continued: “It’s clear to see that the Moncrieff team have put openness and diversity at the heart of this competition, and we were devastated when at the eleventh hour (after much excitement, costume gathering, and corralling of friends), it dawned on us that despite our best efforts" the competition may not be #OpenToAll.
The couple, who got engaged at Glastonbury over two years ago after eight years together, sat down for an exclusive interview with presenter Sean Moncrieff on ttoday, from the D Hotel in Drogheda, county Louth.
Listen to the moment Sean revealed the news to Caoimhe:
Of the winning entry Sean said: “It was incredibly close in the end but Laura and Joe just got pipped to the post by Caoimhe and 'Pixel' - who showed off some very impressive lip-syncing techniques. Well one of them did. I couldn't see ‘Pixel’'s face.
“Thanks to everyone who got involved and sent in their videos. The standard was truly impressive and extremely heart-warming. For a bitter old broadcaster such as myself it was nice to reminded that love is all around,” he added.
Watch the winning entry by Caoimhe and 'Pixel':
The #OpenToAll competition required couples to lip-sync a song in a YouTube-style performance in order to win a wedding with the Little White Chapel and honeymoon to San Francisco worth €20,000.
You can view a montage of all the five finalists’ videos below:
Breakdown of the final vote in percentage:
- Caoimhe and ‘Pixel’ 33%
- Laura and Joe 30%
- Louise and Craig 21%
- Edel and James 8%
- Kate and Ash 8%
And in case you missed it, check out Sean Moncrieff and reporter Henry McKean get in the middle of a lip-syncing ‘Chain Reaction’... It can’t be unseen: http://www.newstalk.com/Moncrieff-and-McKean-lip-sync-about-love-love-love
