This year’s W.R. Shaw Queen of the Land Festival will mark 53 years of celebrations dedicated to the talents and achievements of its participants. The event, which is run by Macra na Feirme, has rocketed in popularity, with increasing success year-on-year since its foundation in 1964. The Queen of the Land will build upon its achievements of last year, insuring that 2017 will be bigger and better than ever before.

W.R. Shaw returns as the main sponsor of the festival, which will run from 10-12 November, presenting 31 Queens from Macra na Feirme clubs throughout Ireland, as well as international representatives who will descend on Tullamore for an action-packed weekend, which will not disappoint. The Queens will be assessed by this year’s judging panel of reigning W.R. Shaw Queen of the Land 2016, Karen Elliffe, W.R. Shaw sponsor representative Billy Shaw, and this year’s guest judge, Deirdre O’Shea, executive director of Agri Aware.

Kicking off on Friday, the official opening of the Queen of the Land festival will take place at the Bridge House Hotel at 6.30pm, with doors opening at 9.30pm for International DJ act, Sash. On Saturday, on-stage interviews with the Queens will take place from 7pm, with MC Will Faulkner from Midlands 103FM radio. This will be followed by music from Transmitter, Legacy and Joe Wynne and a disco afterwards, promising a night of great entertainment. The highlight of the weekend is guaranteed to be the glamorous gala banquet on Sunday night, with music by White Diamond, and the hotly anticipated crowning of the 2017 W.R. Shaw Queen of the Land at midnight.

Weekend entertainment tickets for entry to all events, including gala banquet, are available for €70 and can be ordered in advance on the website www.queenofthelandfestival.com. Admission is also available on the door for the opening night, on-stage interviews and crowning ceremony. For further information, visit www.queenofthelandfestival.com or email queenofthelandfestival@gmail.com.

>> The contestants

Cavan

Karen Dolan

Club: Kilnaleck

Occupation: Lab

technician

Interests: Irish music,

running, volunteering

Cork, Avondhu

Marie Flynn

Club: Fermoy

Occupation: Studying a

master’s in agricultural

extension & innovation

Interests: Farming, sports, listening to music

Cork, Carbery

Jessica O’Reilly

Club: Kilbrittain

Occupation: Technical

assistant

Interests: Cooking, drawing, reading

Cork, Muskerry

Christina Crowley

Club: Terelton

Occupation: SuperValu

deli assistant

Interests: Football, rugby, cars

Cork, Seandun

Alice Copithorne

Club: Kinsale

Occupation: Studying dairy herd management

Interests: Member of

Eventing Ireland equestrian

Donegal

Mary McColgan

Club: Inishowen

Occupation: Retail assistant

Interests: Horse-riding,

farming, swimming

Dublin

Deirdre Heavey

Club: Treble R

Occupation: Accountant

Interests: Hiking,

darts, cycling

England

Charlotte Middlebrook

Club: Selby Young Farmers

Occupation: Primary school teacher & part-time

dairy farmer

Interests: Young Farmers at

all levels, calf rearing,

water sports

Galway

Fiona Howley

Club: South Galway

Occupation: Team lead in medical factory

Interests: Motorsport,

agricultural shows, travelling

Kerry

Laura O’Connell

Club: I.T. Tralee

Occupation: Studying

agricultural science

Interests: Classical piano, farming, tractor runs

Kildare

Emma Birchall

Club: South Kildare

Occupation: Studying

medicine

Interests: Irish dancing

Kilkenny

Kay Muldowney

Club: Callan

Occupation: Validation engineer

Interests: Fun runs, travelling, agricultural shows

Laois

Niamh Ryan

Club: Camross

Occupation: Graphic designer & EMT student at present

Interests: Photography, Irish Red Cross, travelling

Leitrim

Emma Coyle

Club: North Leitrim

Occupation: Studying

occupational safety & health

Interests: Farming,

community involvement, Sligo IT mentor 2015/2016

Limerick

Róisín Shanahan

Club: Shannonside

Occupation: Data analyst

Interests: Swimming, mud runs, farming

Longford

Helen Moran

Club: Granard

Occupation: Retail

customer service

Interests: Agriculture shows, socialising, country music

Louth

Marita Bayly

Club: Termonfeckin

Occupation: Teacher

Interests: Set dancing,

piano, boating

Mayo

Sandra Maloney

Club: Swinford

Occupation: Financial investments (Title: transfer of assets specialist)

Interests: Spinning,

Zumba, movies

Meath

Lisa Foley

Club: Longwood/Killyon

Occupation: Studying

agricultural science

Interests: Sports, baking, volunteering

Monaghan

Emma Adams

Club: Newbliss

Occupation: Veterinary surgeon

Interests: Hell and Back 2016, showing cattle, 10k run

Northern Ireland

Victoria Calvert

Club: Castlecaulfield Young Farmers

Occupation: Staff nurse in intensive care

Interests: Outdoor activities, gym, Duke of Edinburgh award

Offaly

Martina Mealiffe

Club: Rahan

Occupation: Insurance

underwriter

Interests: Reading, baking, travelling

Roscommon

Melissa Glynn

Club: South Roscommon

Occupation: Primary

school teacher

Interests: Horse-riding,

traditional music, Irish dancing

Scotland

Lucy McClymont

Club: Lower Nithsdale

Occupation: Food marketing with nutrition student

Interests: Football,

cooking, volunteering

Sligo

Sarah Walsh

Club: Benbulben

Occupation: Graduate intern in environmental science

Interests: Connacht Motor Club, country music,

agricultural shows

North Tipperary

Liz Gleeson

Club: Ballinahinch/Killoscully

Occupation: Studying

environmental management

in agriculture

Interests: Farming,

GAA, Macra

South Tipperary

Eimear Purcell

Club: Slievenamon

Occupation: Quantity

surveyor

Interests: Badminton,

cooking, photography

Waterford

Maria Cosgrave

Club: Waterford City

Occupation: Clinical

psychologist

Interests: Cycling, triathlons, Feminist Film Club

Westmeath

Christine Deegan

Club: Ballinagore

Occupation: Farm labourer

Interests: Football,

camogie, reading

Wexford

Ciara White

Club: Cushinstown

Occupation: Sales assistant

& farming

Interests: Football,

horse-riding, showing cattle

Wicklow

Deirdre Arnold

Club: Johnstown/Coolgreany

Occupation: Childcare

room leader

Interests: Arts & crafts,

sewing, crochet