Miss Sarah Louise Healy, Cork.
The gorgeous Miss Sarah Louise Healy, representing Cork / Muskerry Macra, was crowned International Miss Macra 2011 at Dundrum House, Co Tipperary last night. Sarah, now brings to six the number of times Cork has won this event in 40 years, making them the county to have won this festival the most times.
Runners up in this years competition were Miss Martina Murphy representing Sligo, and Miss Sharon O’Grady representing Wexford.
A specially commissioned, Sterling Silver Tiara, embellished with cubic zirconia, was presented by Michael’s Jewellers, Thurles, to celebrate this Festival’s 40th Ruby anniversary.
Sarah Louise Healy was presented with the Perpetual Silver Macra Trophy, together with a specially commissioned Perpetual Tiara, a cash prize of €1000 and a Tipperary Crystal trophy sponsored by Dundrum House Hotel.
First Runner up received a specially commissioned piece of Tipperary Crystal and a cash prize of €500, while the second Runner up received a specially commissioned piece of Tipperary Crystal and a cash prize of €300, sponsored by Tipperary Co-Op.
Due to the very high standard of the girl’s competing this year the festival judges, Joan Pollard-Carew, Declan Ryan and Catherine Gowing, described their task as being the most difficult they had yet undertaken.
Miss Martina Murphy, Miss Sarah Louise Healy, Miss Sharon O'Grady
As we forecast, the 2011 International Miss Macra Festival was a sellout, with many supporters, who had failed to book their tickets in advance, unable to gain access to the special Macra Marquee, purposely erected as part of this truly enjoyable three day event.
Highlight of the weekend for the contestants was a visit to Coolmore Stud in Fethard, Co.Tipperary. Highlighting this visit, Clonoulty / Rossmore Chairperson Miss Mary Lyng paid a special tribute to the staff and management, for their extreme professionalism and kindness, paid to the contestants during their guided tour of of the Coolmore complex.
All eyes will be glued to Nationwide on Wednesday evening next, when highlights of the weekends events are to be televised on RTÉ One at the usual time of 7.00.
Following the Macra Banquet, over 300 guests danced the night away to popular Tipperary Band “Silver Dollar” who provided their own very special brand of popular music.
Stills Photographer for the weekend’s event was George Willoughby, Thurles.
Congratulations to Clonoulty Rossmore Macra and their organising committee for another brilliant and professionally organised “Miss Macra Festival”.