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Tralee doctor crowned Miss Ireland 2022
Dr Ivanna McMahon (27), who was a familiar face at University Hospital Kerry, was crowned Miss Ireland 2022 on Saturday at a spectacular Diamond Jubilee Ceremony at The Royal Theatre Castlebar.
Ivanna was thrilled to be crowned the 75th Miss Ireland, and the stunning doctor from Ennis in Co Clare was genuinely surprised with her win. Ivanna studied medicine at University College Cork and graduated in 2020. She went on to do her internship at Cork University Hospital and did cardiology and neurology. Then she went to University Hospital Kerry to work in surgery. She worked in the GP Scheme at the hospital throughout the pandemic and is now taking a well-deserved year out.
She wowed guests on Friday night at the Miss Ireland Diamond Ball with her bewitching performance 'Cosmic Love' by Florence and the Machine on the harp which she started playing at the age of 13 and has played with the National Irish Harp Orchestra and toured Germany and Austria. She also plays six other instruments including the Drums, Harmonica, Fiddle, Bodhrán and Tin Whistle and won All-Ireland Championships for Drums and Harmonica. Ivanna is also a fluent Irish speaker.
The 37 finalists this year were put through their paces in a challenging competitive process over the last three months testing their skills in debating, public speaking, talent, sports, modelling, social media and each finalist was tasked with raising much-needed awareness and funds for their chosen charities.
The over-riding theme this year for Miss Ireland was ‘Our World Our Future’ with a focus on the environment and global citizenship. TanOrganic is the world’s first eco-certified, organic self-tan brand, and this year, for the first time, a new Miss Eco-Ireland sash was awarded to Miss Louth Maiya McMonagle for her sustainable fashion brand and her work in promoting environmental issues.
"We are so proud and grateful to sponsor this year’s Miss Ireland. This year's theme completely aligns with our brand," said Noelle O’Connor, Creator and Founder of TanOrganic.
"Eco, ethical and sustainability are at the core of everything we do. Working with the contestants to make a difference for a better world and future has been a joy.
Established in 1947, Miss Ireland has been the launch pad for many eminent, successful, and inspiring women in Ireland. In recent years the Miss Ireland Franchise has raised over €351,220 for various charities including LauraLynn, Temple Street, Alzheimer’s Ireland, Pieta House, The CARI Foundation and this year are proud to partner with Variety Ireland, an Irish charity helping sick, disadvantaged children with special needs since 1951.
The finalists vying for the coveted crown this year were a highly educated and accomplished group with an eclectic mix of professions and aspirations in fields such as human rights law, medicine, global commerce, corporate law, criminology, cybersecurity, dental nursing, chartered accountancy, international business, performance arts, medicine, psychiatric nursing, economics and politics, marketing and retail innovation, broadcasting, physiology, zoology, biomedical science and social science.
Miss Ireland Ivanna McMahon received a lucrative agency contract and a host of prizes including jewellery, gowns, professional photo shoots, beauty and hair products and will jet off to represent her country at the Miss World Festival which is televised in over 100 countries around the world. She will also enjoy an all-expenses paid trip to the Maldives to do a photo shoot later in the autumn. See www.miss-ireland.ie or on the new Miss Ireland App, available from Apple App Store or Google Play for more.
News
Ireland’s oldest citizen has Killarney connections
Ireland’s oldest woman met with President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin this week. Máirín Hughes, who turned 109 on May 22 has strong Killarney connections. The previous record […]
Ireland’s oldest woman met with President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin this week.
Máirín Hughes, who turned 109 on May 22 has strong Killarney connections.
The previous record was held by 107-year-old Nancy Stewart who died on September 10 2021.
Although born in Belfast, Máirín went to school in the Mercy Convent. Her father was a customs and excise officer and the family moved around a lot eventually coming to Killarney after spells in County Down and Dublin.
Her mother came from the Rathmore area and her father was from Newmarket in County Cork.
She attended the Mercy Convent and has, in previous interviews, recalled growing up on the shores of Lough Lein.
“Neighbours who had three children were given the job of taking me to school,” she said. “They were annoyed because the children were going to school for two or three years but I was put in to the same class as them – my mother had taught me.”
In 2021 she featured in the book ‘Independence Memories: A People’s Portrait of the Early Days of the Irish Nation’, sharing stories of being kept in school in Killarney during an attack on the RIC barracks down the road.
In 1924 she started a degree in science and a diploma in education at University College Cork, before working in the pathology lab in University College Cork’s Department of Medicine for 16 years.
last year she recalled her story on the podcast: ‘Living History – Irish Life and Lore’.
During the broadcast she talked about her parents’ membership of the Gaelic League in 1910; the Spanish Flu in Ireland in 1918; The Black and Tans in Killarney in 1921; the early days of the new Free State; Eucharistic Congress in Dublin in 1932, visiting the Basket Islands in 1929; and working in the UCC medical laboratory from 1932 until 1948.
This week President Michael D. Higgins hosted an afternoon tea event to celebrate the important role that a variety of people have and can play in different communities and Máirín was among the guests of honour.
News
Philip is running over 100kms for Cancer charity
Local runner and charity fundraiser Philip Kissane is set for the biggest challenge of his career as he lines up for the Cork City Marathon on Sunday. Phillip has already […]
Local runner and charity fundraiser Philip Kissane is set for the biggest challenge of his career as he lines up for the Cork City Marathon on Sunday.
Phillip has already completed four half marathons at various locations around Killarney – all in aid of Kerry Cancer Support Group – or the Cancer Bus as it popularly called.
This is the second time that Phillip has run four half marathon and an official race for the charity.
Back in 2021 he finished with 5km Run Killarney event but his finishing race this time around is over eight times the distance at 42kms.
“We are delighted with Philip’s continued fundraising support but also with his awareness raising for the charity,” Breda Dyland, Service Manager Kerry Cancer Support Trust.
“We are getting busier all the time and still get no statutory funding so are dependent on fundraisers like Philip’s to keep us on the road. We have just put our new wheelchair accessible bus on the Cork route so Philip’s funding will be going towards the operation of this vehicle.”
Ireland’s oldest citizen has Killarney connections
Ireland’s oldest woman met with President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin this week. Máirín Hughes, who turned 109...
Philip is running over 100kms for Cancer charity
Local runner and charity fundraiser Philip Kissane is set for the biggest challenge of his career as he lines up...
Game changer as Black Valley connects to 5G network
Residents of the Black Valley are enjoying 5G internet connection for the first time this week. The Black Valley...
Tiernaboul school children complete eight week French culture course
Children from Tiernaboul National School have become experts on French language and culture after completing an eight-week course. On Monday,...
Funding to tackle invasive Rhododendron in National Park
Funding of €17,000 has been allocated to tackle Rhododendron overgrowth in Killarney National Park. It is one of nine biodiversity...
Kingdom hoping to lay some old ghosts to rest at Páirc Uí Chaoimh
by Adam Moynihan All-Ireland SFC Group 1 Cork v Kerry Saturday at 3pm Páirc Uí Chaoimh I was one of...
Is Killarney green or blue? Celtic and Athletic to face off in tonight’s league final
Kerry Premier A League Final Killarney Celtic v Killarney Athletic Tonight at 7.45pm Mounthawk Park, Tralee Killarney Celtic will be...
Killarney man Maye pockets national pool title
Local lad Matthew Maye was the standout Kerry performer at the recent All-Ireland Pool Championships, which were staged at the...
Cup glory on the double for Killarney Celtic
There was cause for celebration on the double for Killarney Celtic last Sunday as both their youths and senior teams...
Will this setback break Kerry or will it make them?
by Adam Moynihan The worst thing I can say about Kerry’s performance against Mayo is that it reminded me of...
