Social Democrats TD Eoin Hayes Apologises For 2009 "Blackface" Costume

Monday, 15 September 2025 21:54

By Martin Osborne

The photo will be published by a media outlet tomorrow.

Social Democrats Deputy Eoin Hayes has tonight apologised for wearing a 'blackface' Halloween costume.

Eoin Hayes said in a statement that a photo is going to published by a news outlet of the Halloween costume he wore sixteen years ago.

He says in 2009 at a Halloween Party, while he was President of the Students Union in University College Cork, he dressed up as US President Barack Obama - who he greatly admired at the time.

He says he has been told that the Irish Daily Mail has photos of this and they are set to publish them tomorrow.

Deputy Hayes says he is profoundly sorry and takes full responsibility for his actions.

Meanwhile, the Social Democrats Think-in is set to take place in Dublin tomorrow morning.

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