This does not appear to have been intended as a compliment, however, as Fr Brendan Kilcoyne added that neither the non-binary performer nor modern Ireland had “a bull’s clue” where they’re going.
He said Bambie Thug was a “perfect” representative for the competition because the singer “sums up modern Ireland in its tragedy”.
“Modern Ireland hasn’t a bull’s clue where it’s going; Miss Thug hasn’t a bull’s clue where she’s going,” said Fr Kilcoyne, who is a parish priest in Balla, Co Mayo.
“Modern Ireland has lost its faith and found superstition; La Thug has lost her faith and found superstition. Modern Ireland is technically very accomplished… Miss Thug is technically accomplished and very good at what she does.
“So you have a very high level of technical accomplishment and absolutely no clue, no sense of long-term coordinates, no map for the future except for some sort of vague, half-digested notion of witchcraft,” he added. "I mean, come on, Bambie. Real witches would bully you.”
The priest made the comments on a video posted on YouTube as part of his own podcast series called The Brendan Option.
Addressing the fact that he was ‘misgendering’ the non-binary artist throughout the video, Fr Kilcoyne said: “Am I misgendering? Isn’t that bold? You’re not allowed to do that anymore. I suppose I’ll be banned.” He said Bambie Thug “seems actually a lovely person in other ways”, adding: “It’s a pity.”
“Strictly speaking, I should be referring to Miss Thug as ‘them’ and ‘they’... Our name is legion, for we are many,” he said, quoting the response of a man possessed by spirits in the Bible when asked his name by Jesus Christ.
“Listen to me, there has to be a better way than this. But, given that this is where we are, I don’t see any reason to complain about Bambie Thug or that act. I think it was a perfect representation for modern Ireland.
“Maybe even an act like Bambie Thug, maybe even that indicates some residual unwillingness to let go of the spiritual quest… there is good here. It’s quite convincingly disguised, but there is good here,” he added.
“The true face of modern Ireland was shown to the world. I think that’s the best thing to come out of this. Míle buíochas, a Bhambie. Go raibh míle maith agaibh – plural.”