Once again Clonoulty Rossmore Macra na Feirme are very excited to announce details of this year’s Miss Macra Festival, which will take place over August Bank holiday weekend from Friday 2nd of August to Monday 5th of August 2013.
This year Clonoulty Rossmore Macra will embark on the 42nd International Miss Macra festival. After a very successful 41 years of this prominent festival, this year sees a new revamp with many firsts. Once again this year’s festival will see girls travelling from all over the country and beyond to Tipperary to compete for the honour of being crowned International Miss Macra 2013, succeeding the much admired, 2012 winner Aileen Hennessey from the Muskerry region of Cork. For the first time, the festival will commence on the Friday instead of Thursday, as traditionally was the case. This will ensure an action packed weekend for the contestants.
The luxurious Dundrum House Hotel, winner of the Certificate of Excellence 2012, has once again been chosen as the prominent venue for this year’s festival. Dundrum House Hotel has been described as an oasis in the Golden Vale, setting the perfect scene for those who are seeking relaxation and fun.
Simone Loughman (International Miss Macra Secretary), Aileen Hennessey( International Miss Macra Winner 2012), Kieran Maguire, Tipperary Co-Op (Sponsor) Donnacha Ryan (International Miss Macra Chairman) & Declan Ryan (Clonoulty Rossmore Macra na Feirme President).
Sponsors
The committee would like to send an enormous ‘Thank You‘ to all their sponsors, host families and local businesses who continue year after year to be generous supporters of the festival. In particular Dundrum House Hotel, Michael’s Jewellers Thurles, Tipperary Co-Op and Gleeson Concrete to name but a few.
Weekend Festival Entertainment
This year’s festival kicks off on Friday the 2nd of August when this year’s contestants will arrive at Dundrum House Hotel, where they will have lunch with the National President, Kieran O’Dowd, in the ‘Lady Clementina,’ restaurant. Friday is a very eventful day for the contestants and there is an emphasis on trying something new. As part of ‘First Time Friday,’ the contestants will embark on a tour of the world famous Coolmore Stud, home to the largest Equestrian Stud farm in Ireland and which boasts some of the best equine stock in the world. For any of the contestants who have an interest in horses and horse breeding this is a dream come true to see this impressive renowned stud farm.
Later in the evening contestants will meet and greet with their host families in Clonoulty Community Centre. The host families will adopt the girls into the heart of their homes for the duration of the festival and thus provide a warm welcome to the contestants. The host families are a very important part of this community based festival and the committee are as always very grateful for their support, generosity and loyalty year after year.
Afterwards it’s time for the girls to get ready to party, as Friday night is a themed “Beach Party,” night which will take place in The Venue in Dundrum with disco dancing till late. Prizes of course for best dressed on the night in question.
Saturday morning heralds an intense day for the contestants, as they must rise early and prepare for their interviews with the judges. There are three judges who are given the difficult task of selecting one girl from this year’s twenty two contestants, to be crowned as International Miss Macra 2013. This year’s trustworthy judges are Joan Pollard Carew, of Michael’s Jewellers in Thurles, published poet, long term patron to the festival and well known in art and Irish dancing circles. Deirdre Crowe, Manager of Dundrum House Hotel, returning judge and has been involved with the festival for many years. Declan Ryan, President of Clonoulty Rossmore Macra na Feirme and a member of the committee who organise the festival annually.
On Saturday afternoon, the contestants will get a chance to relax and catch up with friends, family and supporters at the annual South Tipperary Raft Race which will take place in Golden, followed by a barbeque.
Then once again as the evening draws to a close, its back to Dundrum House Hotel, where the girls will be interviewed on stage by Mike Egan and where they also get a chance to display some of their talents. This year the interviews will take place in the Festival Marquee, adjacent to The Venue. Once the interviews are finished in the Marquee the contestants and their supporters can dance the night away in The Venue to live music from the band Lebowski and DJ afterwards.
International Miss Macra Gala Banquet
Sunday Morning commences with the contestants attending Mass celebrated by Rev Fr.Egan in Clonoulty Parish Church. The choir serenading this ceremony is comprised of members of Clonoulty Rossmore Macra and members of the local community. Directly after Mass, the contestants will take part in a ‘Blast from the Past Sports Day,’ in Clonoulty Rossmore G.A.A Grounds. It is a mixture between a Macra Field Day and School Sports Day. Here the contestants will have to show their worth by participating in many country inspired activities including milking cows and parallel parking using a (toy) tractor and much, much more. All this will be followed by a barbecue, weather permitting.
Sunday night is the highlight of the festival as it draws to a close at the International Miss Macra Gala Banquet, in Dundrum House Hotel. To begin with all the contestants plus their escorts are photographed, before the champagne reception. Next, a delicious five course meal is served followed by dancing and live music. This year the music will be provided by the band Memphis until midnight. At this enchanted hour, silence will descend on the ballroom as anticipation reaches climax point, when the winner of this year’s International Miss Macra festival 2013 will be crowned.
Once again this year’s festival has been planned exceptionally well and it promises to be yet another action packed success and one which will linger long in the memories of all who take part and attend.
Information
If you require any further information about the weekend or if you have any queries don’t hesitate to call any of the festival committee, in particular Donnacha Ryan (Festival Chairperson), Tel: 085 7771859, Simone Loughman (Festival Secretary), Tel: 087 6802092 or Laura O’Dwyer (Festival Secretary), Tel: 085 7041025 or you can find all the latest info on Facebook.
Leave a Reply