In a sea of sharp suits, moustaches, and beautiful bikes, two men managed to stand out even more than the machines and all the outfits on show. Brian and Mark, better known to many now as The Gourmet Boys, turned heads the second they arrived — and not just because of what they were wearing.

They were judges for the day — tasked with selecting Best Dressed Male, Best Dressed Female, and Best Moustache. Not an easy job.

“It was a very difficult decision,” Brian said. “There were so many fabulous outfits out and about today.”

But even among the best-dressed crowd of the year, their look held its own. Bow ties, pocket watches, sharp tailoring — not for show, but by default.

“Well,” Brian added with a smile, “this isn’t a costume. This is how we dress every day of the week back in Belfast.”

An Invite, A Discovery

Their presence at the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride was no accident. Invited personally by organisers Austin and Amanda, they’d only heard of the DGR for the first time about six months ago.

Asked how it came to them being involved. Brian says “Well, we were invited down by Austin and Amanda. We met them about six months ago and Austin said to us, you’ve got to come down. You guys would be amazing to help promote the Distinguished Gentleman Ride”.

They hadn’t heard of it before… but after some research, they wanted to support a wonderful initiatvie. “We’d never heard of it” Brian says and Mark supports him… “Yes, we’d never heard of it. We’d never heard of it. We started investigating it. And after seeing what it was about, we said, absolutely, we will. And today, I have to say the atmosphere has been amazing from the riders”.

And they didn’t just turn up — they joined in fully. They rode pillion with Jimmy and Joe, taking in the countryside and the atmosphere from the saddle.

“Fabulous,” Mark said. “Jimmy and Joe were fantastic. The weather was glorious. And everywhere we went — K Club, Carton House, the villages — people were waving, smiling, tooting their horns. It was just joyful.”

Mark captured it perfectly as the convoy returned to Barberstown. “It was like, they’re all experiencing it as well,” he said, describing the ripple effect of horns, cheers, and smiling faces. “It was fantastic.” But beyond the spectacle, his focus turned straight to the cause. “I just hope they continue to raise loads of money for the men’s health charities that Austin’s supporting,” he added. “It’s really important, isn’t it? When you look at men’s mental health, when you look at prostate cancer — the amount of guys affected — it’s massive. Initiatives like this matter.”

More Than Looks. More Than a Ride.

Their enthusiasm isn’t limited to the outfits or the ride itself. It’s the purpose behind the event that made an impact.

“When you look at men’s mental health, when you look at prostate cancer — the amount of men affected — it’s massive,” Brian said. “And honestly, a lot of men don’t talk about it. We hide things. Keep things in.”

“That’s why something like this is so important,” Mark added. “It opens the door. It gives people a reason to speak, even just to reach out.”

They’re right. The visibility matters. The style draws people in — but it’s what follows that counts.

“It’s not just fun,” Brian said. “It’s good to draw attention to something that needs attention.”

Style, Heart, and Horns

If today’s ride was about presence, then the Gourmet Boys embodied it — not just visually, but vocally. They brought a warmth and welcome that stuck.

This was their first DGR. But the way they moved through the day — the way they engaged, judged, chatted, and rode — you’d never know.

And based on their energy, it likely won’t be their last.

I have to say on a personal note, I got a lot of time to speak with Brian and Mark and it was just a ton of fun to hear their story, learn about the journey they are on and how they got involved in DGR and becoming Creators. We could have chatted for hours. It was great to meet kindred spirits who want to support important causes and are just themselves. “Unapologetically Us”.

I think we’ll do more together in the future.

That was one thing about DGR Kildare, it brings people, stories and journeys together… paths are crossed and stories intertwined in ways that may never have happened without people like Austin stepping up, public figures like The Gourmet Boys supporting the causes and riders like Joe and Jimmy just being great people because it is personal for them…

When paths like this cross, new pathways open… movements and communities start to build. DGR is such a positive event and initiative for a worthy cause that is close to all of our hearts. And we will never forget the people…

The people who we have lost and those people that are struggling and also the people who build, promote and support events like The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride Kildare…

United, together with new friends, like The Gourmet Boys to walk down new pathways and support those still here and to remember those we have lost. Magic.

Until Next Time,

Shane