Irish farmers are outperforming actors, pop stars and sports stars with a bestselling calendar that’s proving a surprise hit in the run-up to Christmas.
The calendar features real working farmers, stripped to the waist and trying to look as hunky as possible…in a self mocking, tongue in cheek sort of way.
The men are from farms all over Ireland and were chosen for their ability to live up to the publisher’s claim to be providing “100% Irish beef”.
The cheeky collection of topless toilers are currently number two in the Irish calendar charts – second only to the pop group One Direction. The 1D boys are now looking anxiously over their shoulders as the farmers make a late surge to be the Christmas number one.
Orders from Australia, the US, and South Africa
The list is compiled by the Calendar Club, which assessed sales in its 22 stores across Ireland. It says calendar sales are a good indicator of which celebrities are likely to be successful in the New Year.
That could be bad news for Justin Bieber, He occupied the number one spot in 2010 but has now dropped to number 20. The news is even worse for celebrity twins Jedward. They were number 2 in 2011 but haven’t even made the top 50 this year.
Ciara Ryan, who created the farmers’ calendar, said sales were way above what was expected with orders coming from as far away as Australia, the US, Hong Kong and South Africa.
The Irish Farmer Calendar costs 10 euros with all the proceeds going the charity Bothar, which supports farmers in the developing world by providing livestock and expertise. You can buy it here.
Irish farmers aren’t the only working men to pose for the cameras in support of charity. Prison officers have also gone bare-chested for their own calendar in support of charity. Read more
