Mayo’s mullet master takes on Europe and he needs your help
A Mayo man has found himself representing Ireland at an unusual event, the first-ever Swiss Mullet Cup.
Trevor Hyland, a 26-year-old Shrule native, is vying for the top spot in a competition that celebrates the best mullets in Europe.
Sponsored by Mullet Hard Ice Tea, a brand that Trevor jokes he’s the spitting image of, the competition promises plenty of fun and some serious rewards.
If successful, Trevor won’t just earn the title but will also advance to the European Mullet Championships. On top of that, a year’s supply of Mullet Hard Ice Tea awaits the winner.
He’s calling on the public to throw him a vote, but there’s a catch, voters must select five mullets, including Trevor’s, to cast their ballot.
Speaking to the Connaught Telegraph, Trevor explained how he ended up in this unexpected position. “I was running a half marathon in Martigny, Visp, in May. At the time, I had the mullet for fun, nothing serious.
After the race, a Swiss man came running over to me, speaking French. I hadn’t spoken French since my Leaving Cert oral, so I told him, ‘Je ne comprends pas Français.’ Luckily, his girlfriend translated for me.”
He chuckles as he recalls the man’s enthusiasm. “He said I was perfect for this mullet competition and that I looked just like the guy on the Mullet Ice Tea cans. I hadn’t even known the competition existed!”
Trevor began growing his mullet in March, but it wasn’t until May, after learning about the competition, that he committed fully. Having moved to Switzerland in August 2023, Trevor explained his reasons for choosing the country.
“I wanted to leave Ireland, but Australia was too far from home. Switzerland seemed like a good option, I’m surrounded by the Swiss Alps, and I’m on the border with Italy. The summers are incredibly hot, hitting the high 30s, and the winters are perfect for skiing, which I do every weekend.”
Though far from home, Trevor hasn’t left the Irish community behind. “There are hundreds, maybe even over a thousand Irish people working in Valais, which is the canton here.
We’re the biggest foreign group, believe it or not. I live on the German-speaking side, but the French side is just a 10-minute train ride away. People here speak so many languages.”
Joining the local football team also came with its own bit of fun. “When I joined Visp FC, the lads nicknamed me ‘Valtteri Bottas’ after the F1 driver who also has a mullet.
Now, with so much positive feedback coming his way, Trevor feels there’s no turning back. “I suppose I’ll have to keep the mullet now! Ideally, I’d love to become the real-life face of Mullet Ice Tea – something like their Duff Man but for mullets.
My favourite name so far has to be ‘The Fresh Prince of BelMullet.’”
Before signing off, Trevor made sure to give a shoutout to the man behind his iconic look. “A big thank you to my barber and photographer, Ciaran Collopy. He was instrumental in making all this happen.”
With the competition fast approaching, all eyes are on Trevor and his beloved mullet, as he carries the hopes of the nation into one of Europe’s quirkiest competitions.
You can vote for Trevor Hyland plus 4 more contestants to cast your ballot through this site here.