Miss Ireland 2007


Last weekend the Miss Ireland contest was held in Cork for the first time. Twenty-four lovely girls, with tans applied, hair sprayed and lip gloss firmly in place, took to the stage to be put through their paces by TV3's Alan Hughes.
Never mind the competitors - almost all the woman at the event looked like they'd stepped off a catwalk, in lavish evening gowns and lots of slender legs on show.
Guests were treated to a Jolie drinks reception (yummy!) followed by a four course meal which was slightly distracting, with waitresses bustling about and plates arriving and departing the table while the contest unfolded on-stage. Nevertheless, I was starving so appreciated it despite missing key moments of the 'action'.
The judges were Stephen Byrne of RSVP magazine, Sinead Desmond from TV3’s Ireland AM, Anthony Stokes from Sunderland FC, former Miss Ireland Andrea Roche, Michael Doyle, hairdresser to the stars; model Glenda Gilson, singer Paul Byrom, Munster rugby’s Alan Quinlan and Krish Naidoo, chairman of the Miss Ireland panel.
Miss Cork Aisling Cronin had been the favourite in the days running up to the event but in the end Miss Spin 103 Daniella Moyles was declared the second runner-up, Miss Heart and Soul Karen Sutton was the runner-up, while 21-year-old Miss Time Blaitnaid McKenna from Naas Co. Kildare was crowned the winner. Here I am pictured with her above and below just moments after her victory when I stormed the stage!
Her whirlwind year in the spotlight is just beginning. The student of Italian and French will represent Ireland on December 1st in China and says she wants to do Irish women proud. Good luck to her!