Social Democrats TD Eoin Hayes has issued an apology for dressing up as Barack Obama at a Halloween party in 2012Social Democrats TD Eoin Hayes has issued an apology for wearing brown make-up on his face and hands while dressed up as former US president Barack Obama for a Halloween party. The incident took place while Mr Hayes was president of the Students’ Union in University College Cork some 16 years ago. A Social Democrats spokesperson said on Monday evening: “The Social Democrats abhor all forms of racism. The Social Democrats had been calling for economic sanctions against Israel months before Mr Hayes’s election to the council. His suspension was reviewed by the national executive of the party before being considered further by the parliamentary party and lifted in July.

Source: The Irish Times September 16, 2025 05:17 UTC