Thousands of visitors are expected to arrive into Co Tipperary, ending up in the luxurious Dundrum House Hotel, Dundrum, over next weekend, for the annual International Miss Macra Festival, beginning Friday 2nd of August to Monday 5th of August 2013.
This prominent festival which has been running consecutively for the past 42 years, will see girls travelling from all over Ireland and beyond to Co Tipperary to compete for the honour of being crowned International Miss Macra 2013.
So what are this year’s three Judges, (Joan Pollard Carew, Deirdre Crowe and Declan Ryan,) looking for in this year’s competition, for the right to hold the title International Miss Macra 2013? All three judges confirm that this competition is about more than just beauty alone.
Yes appearance, fashion and each girls overall demeanour is very important, but they will be digging just a little deeper below the skin’s surface as it were, to find out contestants achievement, their overall personalities, their passions, intelligence, business acumen and very importantly their ability to communicate, and all carried out in the very relaxed atmosphere of this three day inclusive festival event. As Joan Pollard Carew pointed out to me last year, while the initial interview may go well for some competitors, this rarely decides the overall winner of the competition, since all girls competing, are evaluated over a full three day period.
Some twenty two girls are competing for this year’s title.
Sponsors
The Miss Macra organising Festival committee, led by chairman Mr Donnacha Ryan, 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.
Friday Night will see a themed “Beach Party,” taking place in ‘The Venue,’ in Dundrum with disco dancing late into the night with prizes of course for best dressed on the night in question.
Saturday Night, once the stage interviews are finished in the Marquee the contestants and their supporters can dance the night away in ‘The Venue,’ to live music from top band “Lebowski,” and DJ afterwards.
Sunday, the morning commences with the contestants attending Mass celebrated by Rev Fr. Egan in Clonoulty Parish Church. Directly after Mass, the contestants will then take part in a ‘Blast from the Past Sports Day,’ in Clonoulty Rossmore G.A.A Grounds.
Sunday Night is the highlight of the festival as it draws to a close with the International Miss Macra Gala Banquet, in Dundrum House Hotel, followed with music by the popular band ‘Memphis,’ until midnight when International Miss Macra 2013 will be crowned with her Tiara.
As always this annual Festival guarantees a truly unforgettable weekend here in the heart of Co Tipperary.
This festival is one of the highlights of Macra each year. If you have not attended this festival you are missing out on one of the most important social events in Co Tipperary. I am delighted to be involved and looking forward to meeting all the wonderful contestants over the weekend.