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
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