From Thursday 28th July to Sunday July 31st, 2011 tractors, silage harvesters and milking machines will go silent. Farms throughout the thirty-two counties will have all the appearance of being abandoned, when the young farmers of Ireland converge on the villages of Dundrum and Clonoulty, Co. Tipperary. One Summer weekend for the last 39 years here in Tipperary has been set aside to make friendships, enjoy festivity and fun, and this years 40th International Miss Macra festival and celebration promises, yet again to guarantee all three.
The scenic village of Clonoulty is once again honoured to host this annual festival, as beautiful young ladies from Ireland and abroad get set to compete for the prestigious title of 40th International Miss Macra 2011. Indeed if the International Miss Macra press conference was a reflection of the festival to come, then this years event could be seriously challenged for space and bed accommodation locally.
Nowadays, when members of the press are invited to to such conferences, they expect to find a handful of “the usual suspects,” neatly rounded up, but not our International Miss Macra committee. To a tightly packed conference room, the organisations Chairperson Mary Lyng addressed host families, sponsors, judges, committee and press members, together with over 16 of this years competing 26 gorgeous competitors, all taking part in this years competition. Some contestants had travelled from places as far away as Scotland, Tyrone, Dublin, Sligo, Cork and Clare for the evening, to the palatial Dundrum House Hotel and Golf Resort here in County Tipperary, latter all staking their claim to the title 40th International Miss Macra 2011.
In her opening address Chairperson Mary Lyng stated:-
On behalf of the organising committee of International Miss Macra Festival 2011, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the Official Launch of our Festival. Now in its 40th year, we are delighted to have 26 contestants taking part in this year’s festival.
To the contestants, I welcome you and hope you have an enjoyable weekend. I would like to especially welcome back Annabelle Keohe, International Miss Macra 2010, who has travelled from Wicklow to be with us this evening.
I would like to welcome our Host Families and thank them for all their support and assistance. Each year they so generously open their doors to the contestants for the weekend. I would also like to thank our many kind sponsors. The success of the festival depends greatly on them and we thank them for their continued support. Particularly I would like to pay tribute to Michaels Jewellers’ and Dundrum House Hotel.
Our adjudicators have a difficult task ahead of them for the weekend, but I have no doubt that Joan, Declan and Catherine are more than capable of the task. I wish them the best of luck!
I wish also to thank National President of Macra Alan Jagoe and Munster Vice President Tommy Myles, for their support, and finally to all members of Clonoulty Rossmore Macra na Feirme, I thank them for all the work they have put into this year’s festival and look forward to the next two weeks of final preparations!
Mary Lyng also informed the large gathering that RTÉ had confirmed that Nationwide would be sending their camera’s to cover this years event, latter hosted by the popular duo of Mary Kennedy and Michael Ryan.
Outline of the Weekend’s Activities
Thursday 28th July: 6.00-7.30 pm – Contestants arrive in Dundrum House Hotel to meet organising committee and at 9.oopm contestants get to meet and greet with their Host Families in Clonoulty Community Centre, followed by a ceilí and other entertainment. The launch of a 40th celebration and Commemorative Booklet will also be held here.
Friday 29th July: 10.30am – 4.30pm The Queen Elizabeth II Guided Tour of Coolmore Stud and the Rock of Cashel will take place, broken briefly by lunch hosted by Macra National President, Alan Jagoe.
10.00pm sharp begins a 70’s Theme Night, Fancy dress and dancing to the “Wig Wham Glam,” band, followed by a disco in ‘The Venue,’ Dundrum House Hotel’s premier night spot..
Saturday 30th July: 9.00am begins Interviews for all the contestants in ‘The Multeen Suite,’ in Dundrum House Hotel.
1.00pm – Sound rehearsals for the cabaret. 2.00pm – Hairdresser appointments. 7.00pm – Mass in Rossmore Church. 8.00pm – Cabaret in marquee adjacent to ‘The Venue,’, followed by dancing to ‘No Recession,’ and late night disco.
Sunday 31st July: 12.00pm Sports Day, Barbecue and ‘Know your Neighbour,’ Family Fun Day in Clonoulty G.A.A. Grounds.
6.00pm – Official Photographs for all contestants. 6.45pm – Champagne Reception. 7.30pm – International Miss Macra Gala Banquet 2011.
10.30pm – Dancing to ‘Silver Dollar.’ Midnight Announcement of International Miss Macra 2011. 12.30 – Late Farewell Disco
Prizes:
The chosen 40th International Miss Macra 2011 will receive:- The International Miss Macra Perpetual Silver Trophy, together with a specially commissioned Perpetual Tiara, designed by Michael’s Jewelers’, Thurles, Co Tipperary, a cash prize of €1000 and a Tipperary Crystal trophy sponsored by Dundrum House Hotel.
First Runner up in this International Miss Macra festival will receive a specially commissioned piece of Tipperary Crystal and a prize fund of €500, while the second Runner up will receive a specially commissioned piece of Tipperary Crystal and a cash prize of €300, sponsored by Tipperary Co-Op.
Each of the 26 contestants will receive a momento of the weekend, also kindly sponsored by Michael’s Jewelers’, Thurles, Co Tipperary.
Marking System
Personality will receive 30 marks, Involvement in Macra 25 marks, Hobbies and Interests 15 marks, Knowledge of Macra 10 marks, General knowledge 10 marks and finally Beauty and deportment 10 marks. Total 100 marks awarded.
This years event has all the hallmarks of being the largest Macra event yet with the winners from the previous 39 Miss Macra competions expected to be in attendance at the Sunday nights Banquet.
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