Tipperary to host International Miss Macra 2018

International Miss Macra festival 2018 was officially launched last Friday in the Anner Hotel, Thurles.

This year, 20 counties will be represented by 24 contestants. They will journey to Tipperary in the hope of being crowned International Miss Macra 2018, following in the footsteps of last year’s winner, Miss Lynsay Hawkes (Tyrone).

“22 girls from all over Ireland and the UK converged on Thurles, Tipperary for a weekend of a lifetime! I can safely say it is a long way to Tipperary…but most definitely worth it!” Lynsay Hawkes, International Miss Macra 2017.

The primary location for this year’s festival will be The Anner Hotel, Conference and Leisure Centre. The Anner facilitated the festival’s return to Thurles three years ago and continues to be a great support of Macra. The ballroom, conference rooms, private grounds and manicured gardens make it the perfect location for such an event.

International Miss Macra 2018 will be selected by a 3-person judging panel. This panel will be comprised of veteran judges Joan Pollard Carew and Declan Ryan. This year, they will be joined by Sinéad Guiney (International Miss Macra 2016).

Declan Ryan is certainly familiar with the festival; he has held every position on the International Miss Macra Festival Committee during his time with Clonoulty-Rossmore Macra and is the current Clonoulty-Rossmore Macra na Feirme Club President.

Joan Pollard Carew is representing the main sponsor of the festival, Michael Carew Jewellers, Thurles. Known nationally in Irish Art and Irish Dancing circles, Joan is also a published poet. Joan and her husband also contribute greatly to the festival in terms of invaluable support, time and advice. In selecting a third judge, a person who is familiar with the festival and necessary qualities of an International Miss Macra was of great importance. Sinéad was identified as being an excellent choice; in 2016 she attended the festival as a contestant where she as crowned International Miss Macra 2016, last year she returned as the reigning Miss Macra to offer invaluable support and advice to the contestants and she will now return again as a judge.

Friday, August 3rd – Charity Night in aid of South Tipperary Hospice

Upon arrival in Clonoulty, the contestants will board a bus to world-famous Coolmore Stud Farm where they will get a tour. This will be followed by lunch in Fahy’s restaurant, Cashel. Contestants will return to Clonoulty where they will take part in an ice-breaking class in Clonoulty Community Hall. Host families will then arrive at the Community Hall to meet the contestants; a long-standing tradition of the festival.

“My host family have been hosting the contestants for over 30 years and come from a strong sporting and dairy background which suited me to the ground. I can tell you we had some interesting conversations over breakfast about Brexit, rugby, Gaelic and the price of milk.” Lynsay Hawkes, International Miss Macra 2017 on her experience with her host family.

Clonoulty-Rossmore community offers great support to the festival every year. This was particularly visible last year when the Friday night festivities were brought to a local pub, with door proceeds being donated to a local cause. Owing to this success, the festivals ‘Charity Night’ will again take place in Coffey’s of Stouke with local musicians and DJ providing entertainment. All door proceeds (in addition to a portion of the proceeds from this year’s Miss Macra Annual Tractor Run) will be donated to South Tipperary Hospice Movement. All support on 3rd of August would be most appreciated for this invaluable cause.

“There’s no party like a YFC or Macra party!” Lynsay Hawkes, International Miss Macra 2017 on last year’s Charity Night.

Saturday, August 4th – Cabaret Interviews with band ‘The Waxies’

All contestants must rise early on Saturday morning for the most intense day of the festival. The contestants will return to The Anner for private interviews in front of the judging panel, followed by interview with the cabaret MC, Valerie Wheeler. The judges also have a busy day as they use the interview performances to help them to select the contestant to be crowned “International Miss Macra 2018”.

‘The Dome’, Semple Stadium will be the place to be for all supporters on Saturday night for the Cabaret. The contestants will be interviewed in couples by our interviewer from Spin South-West, Valerie Wheeler. Everyone will dance the night away to music from ‘The Waxies’ and DJ from 10.30pm.

“I took to the stage with Miss Kilkenny. My questions ranged from the talent at the mart, my predicament of not having a man, competing in ladies rugby and what it would mean to be crowned International Miss Macra 2017. Of course, acres, expansion and road frontage were mentioned. We of course danced the night away to the waxies and DJ and boy can they party!” Lynsay Hawkes, on Saturday Cabaret last year.

Sunday, August 5th – Gala Banquet with band ‘Silver Dollar’

Following Mass in Clonoulty Parish Church, contestants will take part in  a ‘Sports Day’ in the Clonoulty G.A.A grounds. The contestants will be divided into teams and will compete in country-inspired activities, building up an appetite which will be satisfied by a BBQ, presided over by local butcher, Joe Hammersley (weather permitting).

The International Miss Macra Gala Banquet  on Sunday night is highlight of the festival. A champagne reception will be held for all contestants and their escorts who will then have their official photographs taken. A delicious five-course meal will then be served to the contestants, their handsome escorts, the invaluable host-families, and various supporters in the Anner ballroom. The meal will be followed by live music by “Silver Dollar” and dancing. At midnight, silence will descend on the Anner ballroom in anticipation of the announcing runner-up (FBD Insurance) and second runner-up (Tipperary Co-Op) and crowning  International Miss Macra 2018 (Anner Hotel). As the festival now draws to a close, the entire ballroom will dance the night away well into the early hours of Monday morning.

“The rest is a world wind with some awful photographs of myself crying but it was something that I never had expected or a moment that I will never forget

Returning back home, I was faced with many interviews, radio interviews and photo opportunities with my main role as International Miss Macra 2017 being an ambassador for the YFCU and Macra ne Feirme. I have attended the Ploughing match in Tullamore, been guest speaker at anniversary dinners, provided presentations to both the young and old and judged competitions across the North and South and I look forward to the forthcoming shows promoting all things YFC and Macra in the short time I have left!

For myself, it is an experience of a lifetime and the contacts, friendships and memories I have made will certainly remain with me forever. I am proud to say that not only am I part of a YFCU family but I also have a Macra family now too.” Lynsay Hawkes, on being crowned last year and her year as International Miss Macra 2017.

The committee of International Miss Macra look forward to welcoming you to Tipperary and showing you a weekend you will truly never forget. For ticket and other information on what is guaranteed to be an unforgettable weekend, find us on Facebook (Miss Macra Festival) or head to our website (www.missmacra.com), or you can contact Edel Ryan (Festival Chairperson), on Mobile 087-7546972 or email missmacra@gmail.com.

So don’t delay, book your tickets and head to Thurles, Co. Tipperary this August Bank Holiday weekend.