Tyrone representative crowned International Miss Macra
Lynsay Hawkes, representing Tyrone, took the crown at the close of the 46th annual International Miss Macra Festival which took place over the August bank-holiday weekend, .
The festival, run by Clonoulty/Rossmore Macra na Feirme, drew contestants and supporters from across the country and, indeed, overseas to Thurles, Co Tipperary.
Angela Ryan, representing Offaly, took second place, while Ciara Corkery, representing Cork’s Muskerry region, was third.
The winners were announced at midnight last Sunday night at a gala banquet at the Anner Hotel.
Lynsay, a member of Seskinore Young Farmers, follows in the footsteps of Avondhu Macra’s Sinéad Guiney, the 2016 International Miss Macra, who is a member of Freemount Macra.
Lynsay is hugely active in her club, having acted as secretary, assistant secretary, and club PRO.
She also plays football and tag rugby and participates in dairy and beef stock judging, as well as public speaking and debating.
She was top impromptu public speaker in Northern Ireland in 2015 and 2016 and top public relations officer in 2014.
Lynsay was crowned with a specially made tiara designed and handcrafted by Michael Carew Jewellers.
She was also presented with the Fitzgibbon Perpetual Cup, a cash prize of €1,000, and other prizes.
Angela and Ciara were also presented with runners-up prizes.
Events kicked off last Friday, when the contestants met the festival committee before going on a personal tour of the world-renowned Coolmore stud farm.
The finalists were then treated to lunch before taking part in a zumba class and meeting their host families.
On Friday night, the finalists let their hair down ahead of a busy Saturday, which saw each finalist interviewed by a panel of judges.
Later, each contestant was interviewed on stage in front of a huge audience at the festival Dome at Semple Stadium.
Sunday started with the contestants attending Mass in Clonoulty parish Church, followed by a family fun field day in Clonoulty GAA grounds
Later, the contestants and their escorts posed for the cameras before enjoying a champagne reception, followed by a five-course meal as part of the gala banquet.
The meal was followed by speeches, live music by Silver Dollar, and dancing, before Lynsay was crowned at midnight.
