Brian Dowling and Arthur Gourounlian expecting first baby.

Zebra3

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119038847#Comment_119038847

Talking about in general, as a lot of this thread is.

Not even gone touch the inbreeding aspect of it.

Shield

If your ma is also your aunt, does the baby get two birthday presents or just the one?

Asking for some friends.

sam t smith

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119038875#Comment_119038875

Could the same aunt be the godmother?

Shield

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119038879#Comment_119038879

Ah here I’m going to bed

dark crystal

Wasn't this a storyline in Friends?

Best of luck to them. There's enough misery in the world not to be cribbing about a child being brought into the world by two seemingly responsible and loving parents. Plenty of 'traditional' parents' who shouldn't own a goldfish, let alone a child.

Wombatman

Great news. They plan to share as much of it as they can. Now all we need to concern ourselves about is "who should be called Dad and who should be called Daddy".

YellowFeather

An, would you leave them be. They want a child, and this, unconventional method is what they decided on. But I’m would say they will be great parents. Brian was - in recollection- the most popular BB contestant ever. He’s a nice person. I’m fairly sure that his husband is a nice person too.

Tork

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119039118#Comment_119039118

I hope for the child's sake that they are nice people. More importantly, that they break the habit of a lifetime and stop attention seeking. What this child needs is as regular an upbringing as he/she can have, outside the public eye.

YellowFeather

Pretty sure it will be fine. In this age of Tik Tok and Insta and Twitter to an extent - almost everybody of child bearing age in this side of the world is attention seeking. Anyhow. I wish them well. Don’t get the reason for all of the negative comments. They might read this thread, and some of the opinions expressed are way worse than two guys who want to have and raise a child.

Shelga

I don't understand why people think they are treating the child like a fashion accessory. Surely they've thought about it a hell of a lot more than drunk straight people who get pregnant after a one night stand. Yes the caption "we're pregnant" irritated me a bit, as a woman, but Brian seems like a nice person and I'm sure the child will be very well looked after. The "fashion accessory" comments are what just sound like thinly-disguised homophobia to me. Plus it's their own business, he and his sister are clearly very close, and no exploitation is taking place (unlike Ukraine where this is arguably the case).

And I'm pretty sure studies show that it's the presence of two parents, not the sex of the parents, that's important in a child's life, so people should just STFU and mind their own business.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119038122#Comment_119038122

Ah right. You have an issue with a specific poster. There is an ignore function if it riles you up that much.

And "a poster" isn't a huge difference from "him". We were both talking about the same singular individual.

I don't think you would love to debate it further as you said you are out and moving onto other threads (no doubt to leave it once you see a poster you disagree with).

If you don't like the site or if it leaves a sour taste in your mouth, perhaps you aren't compatible with discussion and should stick to places where only like-minded individuals sit and agree with each other.

goldenmick

@[Deleted User] - ....perhaps you aren't compatible with discussion and should stick to places where only like-minded individuals sit and agree with each other.

In which case I'll follow you out of the door as you're obviously in need of such a place yourself.

I'd already left the thread, and you're simply trolling now. Sad that you've got nothing better to do.

Fandymo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119039837#Comment_119039837

They ran straight to the papers to show off the fact that they're getting the latest accessory. Homophobia my arse. It's the kid I feel sorry for. Won't stand a chance with those 2 attention seekers pushing them into the limelight.

Annasopra

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119039837#Comment_119039837

Indeed. Never seen other couples attacked like this before.

SouthWesterly

So slavery (buying and selling people is wrong) but surrogacy (buying and selling babies) is perfectly right.

The mind boggles at the double standards

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119040324#Comment_119040324

You've never seen two "celebrities" attacked like this before?

Attacked?

Ah come on ffs.

I suppose you feel that the reason for this unprecedented all-out attack is due to some sort of "phobia"?

retro:electro

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119040158#Comment_119040158

They didn’t run straight to the papers. The article is a total copy and paste job from Brian and Arthur’s Instagram posts.

SuperBowserWorld

Person A barely makes a living nursing cancer patients in hospital.

Person B makes a living by telling the press he is having a baby.

There lies the rub.

Shield

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119040368#Comment_119040368

Celebrities attacked online with hurtful words will not be tolerated. All available officers are on their way.

SuperBowserWorld

Celebrity Oh Brother

bertiebomber

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119036304#Comment_119036304

I say its better than dogs as they really get a raw deal when they get bored of them!!

Fandymo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119040543#Comment_119040543

Very true, although a dog can be rehomed. No way a "celeb" is going through the shame of being seen to rehome a kid/put them up for adoption/into care. They'll just grow up damaged beyond repair.

One eyed Jack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119040845#Comment_119040845

Immediately, I remembered reading about this couples decision to place the child they adopted from China, up for adoption -

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/amphtml/stephaniemcneal/myka-stauffer-huxley-announcement

Best decision they ever made for the child IMO, pair of absolute nutters with shìtty values that they will still manage to pass on to their other children.

As for the two lads - good luck to them. I don’t support nor endorse surrogacy, either commercial or altruistic, but I see no reason to be critical of the couple in question as parents. Whether there are better or worse parents out there is of no relevance to the couple in the opening post, nor should it be. There’s no reason to assume they’re any better or any worse than anyone else who becomes a parent, however they become a parent.

Richard Hillman

I note in the Minister for Childrens public apology yesterday re: Adoptions/Birth Certs that he says:

"Those who were knowingly involved in the illegal registration of births, committed a grave offence which robbed children of their identity and their right to an accurate birth registration."

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2022/0510/1297099-illegal-birth-apology/

I have seen Irish celebrity baby buyers complain in the media recently that they are struggling to be declared legal guardians of the children they possess

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/rosanna-davison-i-m-still-waiting-two-years-later-to-apply-to-be-my-daughter-s-guardian-1.4713360?mode=sample&auth-failed=1&pw-origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishtimes.com%2Flife-and-style%2Fhealth-family%2Frosanna-davison-i-m-still-waiting-two-years-later-to-apply-to-be-my-daughter-s-guardian-1.4713360

So basically they are goosed because I am sure the mother's of the babies wanted anonymity. Which also raises the bizarre story of Rosanna Davison and her quest to get the babies mother out of Ukraine. Was there an ulterior motive to this? Did she just want her out to sign over the baby to her? Is she even the mother of the baby or just some randomer? Does she even know who the name of the mother is? Is there a Ukrainian birth cert that will be accessible to the child when they grow up?

We can't have it both ways, where the state is apologizing for not adhering to right of accurate birth information and then Irish celebrities are buying anonymous babies from Ukraine.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119040324#Comment_119040324

Absolutely. You'd thing some people had never seen a 'we're pregnant' celebrity couple before. Or any couple for that matter.

There was a time when thered be one in OK! or Hello! every other month.

Fandymo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119045334#Comment_119045334

"We're pregnant". Neither of them have the internal prerequisites to get pregnant.

AckwelFoley

I've no problem with same sex people having children. But I do have a problem with this new trend of "we are pregnant" shite.

We are not pregnant unless I have a conjoined womb im unaware of it was the wife that was pregnant , had the hormones all out of whack and pushed the baby out of her fanoola

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119045909#Comment_119045909

Yes. You said. Several times before. And I'm still surprised you've never heard the phrase before.

AckwelFoley

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119045983#Comment_119045983

Only recently I've started to notice. I'm not much interested the "celeb" news feed and don't do the social media scene so it is plausible.

I'd go as far as saying it's disrespectful to women.

They may be expecting a baby, as I have been. But I wasn't pregnant.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119046005#Comment_119046005

I've seen it many times and many years ago, even with traditional couples conceiving via tradiontal means. It's not meant to be taken literally.

AckwelFoley

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119046037#Comment_119046037

I've often argued the "its not to be taken literally" as a defence for saying something. Never seems to hold water in this day and age.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119046120#Comment_119046120

Really? Everything is literal to you and no phrase or idiom is acceptable?

Strange...

youngblood

"disrespectful to women" "Traditional" "accessory"

"'circus" "what gender will they give the child"

The comments in this thread aren't even slightly veiled as being anything but hurtful & disrespectful to Brian & Arthur

When you have to qualify statements with "Im not homophobic but" it's just providing an excuse to yourself to be very homophobic unfortunately.

Not sure the majority of the these comments would be acceptable in heterosexual thread on surrogacy-beyond comprehension why they are tolerated here?

Just remember when the child is "of age" to google himself and everything will still be available online for them to view-

Would you rather leave a positive or negative contribution on their life??

AckwelFoley

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119046642#Comment_119046642

That's not what I said.

But, you're keen on the self confessed crusade calling out people in the Woke thread - for not being anti woke, but merely bigoted, or transphobic. When, really it's a matter of let's not take things too literal, when on can be allowed to be miffed at the stupid expression or tokenism

Well, I'm on my own crusade of calling out shite when I see it. And this we are pregnant is shite

How Soon Is Now

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119046693#Comment_119046693

By the time the child is "of age" growing up in the environment it's going to it will have such thick skin they will probably be a rhino! Sure by then they will more than likely legally be able to identify as one as well.

AckwelFoley

@youngblood before you quote what I said, please read it first. It wasn't so detailed that someone could extrapolate it as being anything close to homophobic. The clue is in the sentence, "I'm not against same sex parenting". It's the stupid expression I dislike and it's used by both hetro and same sex couples

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119046753#Comment_119046753

This isn't s woke issue and it isn't a social one so stay on topic and quit the veiled insults.

Is the phrase 'we're pregnant' the ONLY thing you're upset about - yes or no? If they said 'we're having a baby', would you be fine with it?

AckwelFoley

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119046790#Comment_119046790

I have no intention of insulting you. If I did, you wouldn't be in any doubt. I have no need to insult you, i dont have any problem with you at all. I think we're being rather civil no?

To answer you second question, it's only the expression I've an issue with, their gender or sexual orientation is irrelevant to me, and none of my business. As you mentioned already, you'll find I've brought up this "we are pregnant" before in threads unrelated to this.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119046866#Comment_119046866

No idea. Can't go through a poster's old posts since the site relaunch.

Frankly, getting upset about a phrase and heading to the Internet is something I'd expect more from the woke crowd, but getting hard to tell the difference between woke and anti-woke these days.

AckwelFoley

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119046942#Comment_119046942

I'll cope. I made it this far.

jmayo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119039157#Comment_119039157

Nah looking at the plonkers they will use this child for their media and will be into what they now term "digital child slavery."

Basically pimping your kids on social media and the likes for money.

They will no doubt be in competition with that other vacuous attention seeking slaphead Vogue for detergent ads and the like.

These two eejits, no more that all the other social media talentless creations should not ever be allowed procreate, they are lowering the IQ of humanity.

DoctorEdgeWild

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119047074#Comment_119047074

You want to prevent some people from procreating, based on their (successful so far) career choice? That's pretty messed up.

thefallingman

i actually feel sorry for the sister, imagine how hard it will be to hand over her child, and then be an aunty in his/her life, and the kid has a right to know who it's mam is in my opinion anyway, the most special person in most of our lives is our mother

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119047074#Comment_119047074

Hmm.... forced sterilisation of undesirables.... wonder who else had that idea....

Oh, yeah - Godwin

Richard Hillman

Who's name goes on the birth certificate? It can't be BD and his fella, whilst omitting the mother? It can't be the mother and 2 father's. Who gets omitted?

is_that_so

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119046693#Comment_119046693

One should be more concerned at the level of prurience into their lives and that they have such a desperate need to share it with anybody outside their family. It really does look like they are angling for an at home family shoot for a very large fee but it's the way of the world sadly.

Galwayguy35

Its not an ideal situation.

angel eyes 2012

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119047829#Comment_119047829

In Irish Law, the woman who gives birth is considered the mother, and therefore her name goes on the birth certificate. The name of the father who provided the sample goes down on the birth certificate as the father.

They may have used an egg donor too, I'm not sure if that has been clarified. But this information is not required for the birth certificate.

maik3n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119047282#Comment_119047282

It was actually mentioned earlier in the thread, that it's apparently a donor egg, with one of the lads contributions.

The sister is just the vessel/womb for the embryo.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119048262#Comment_119048262

There were some developments in 2020 regarding same sex couples and birth certificates.

https://lgbt.ie/get-information/parenting/

Mind you, from the above article the birth cert situation seems to only apply to same sex female couples?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119048262#Comment_119048262

Yes, they did use a donor egg.

Some of the comments on this thread are shameful. There is nothing weird about Brian's sister acting as a surrogate for her sibling. Stories of sisters and friends acting as surrogates for each other have been happening for years.

Why is it different in this case because the siblings are brother and sister? If Aoife was acting as a surrogate for one of their other five sisters would it receive this amount of negative commentary and personal attacks?

No it wouldn't. This thread is purely an attack on Brian and Arthur.

I don't know what kind of parents they'll be. No one knows what kind of parent they will be until they actually become one. Personally, I offer my congratulations to Brian and Arthur and I wish them all the best, and I think what Aoife is doing for them, is wonderful.