A NORTH Clare resident who admitted to masturbating while following young women around Galway City may be stripped of his crown as Irelands Most Romantic Man.
Northern Ireland-based publication, The Irish Wedding Journal, awarded Aidan Clifford and his partner Ellen Spence the title of Irelands Most Romantic Couple following a nationwide competition last week.
The Clare People now understands that the magazine may seek to strip the couple of their title, along with the 46,000 first prize, because of revelations over Cliffords previous conduct.
Clifford was convicted of committing two acts which were offensive to public morals and decency by Galway District Court last year.
He admitted to following women around Galway City in his car while masturbating, on his days off from his Ballyvaughan job. Sentencing in the case was delayed for one year by Judge Mary Fahy and is due to take place in Galway next Monday.
Originally from Kerry, Clifford has been living and working in the Burren area for a number of years. The couple currently live in Kinvara, where Ms Spence has recently launched a new business, while Mr Clifford currently works in Ballyvaughan.
A number of Ballyvaughan residents contacted The Irish Wedding Journal last week, demanding that Mr Clifford be stripped of the prize.
Speaking to The Clare People, one resident described the situation as a total disgrace.  
My own grandchildren play down in Ballyvaughan all the time. Its bad enough to think that this man [Clifford] is around, never mind putting him up on a pedestal like this, he said.
Another local resident told The Clare People that there was a lot of animosity here [in Ballyvaughan] about it. Everybody is disgusted.
The Irish Wedding Journal has declined to comment on the matter except to say that it organised the competition in good faith. However, The Clare People understands that the publication is currently examining its legal standing in relation to the competition.
The couple beat off stiff competition from dozens of other entries from the whole island of Ireland to win the prize. The couple met on a skiing trip in Italy in January of 2007.
Spence, who is from Lurgan in Northern Ireland, moved to Kinvara last year to be closer to her partner.
Their 46,000 prize includes a wedding reception in the renowned Parknasilla Resort in Kerry, a designer wedding dress from either Kathy de Stafford in Dublin or Blush Bridal in Belfast and a luxury Sandals honeymoon from Tropical Places.