Miss Cork Final ....and Cork Simon Ball

This is the moment when Jean Kenny was crowned Miss Cork 2008 at a grand finale in the Rochestown Park Hotel. Jean, a medical student from Clonakilty, has a natural beauty and is smart and unasuming at the same time. She was definitely in my top two, as believe or not was the runner up Breda Verling, also pictured below (apologies for the red eyes!). Breda too, had a wonderful poise and elegance.
The judges on the night were Susan Dineen from The Designer Tile Outlet (title sponsor of the event), Lisa O'Sullivan from Cocoon, Frances Lynch from Victoria Antiques and DJ KC. They had a difficult task - but picked well. Jean now goes forward to the Miss Ireland contest and we wish her the best of luck!

Runner up Breda Verling above.

Below is Jean, flanked by Lockdown Model Agency bosses Emer O'Sullivan and Vivienne Kelly at the Cork Simon Ball. It was Jean's first official engagement, as she showed off a watch worth €8,000 from Keane's Jewellers which was later won by a lucky guest.

I had the girls at my table, so we all had a good chat at what was a really great night. Around €100,000 was raised for the charity - oh and I also won loads of Elizabeth Arden cosmetics. I was very excited as I never usually in anything... and to think I walked away from the Lotto queue earler in the day because it was moving too slowly, and I was, as usual, in a hurry...it could have been my lucky night!!!

Here I am below with Emer - alas, not €10 million richer!