Macra news: 32 girls line up for Queen of Land launch
This year’s festival has 32 competing queens, including representatives from Scotland, England, and Northern Ireland.
The festival, at the Bridge House Hotel, will be held in Tullamore from November 11 to 13.
Speaking at the launch, the chairman of the festival committee, Ger Mahon, said: “We are delighted to have WR Shaw back as the main sponsors of the festival, and we extend our sincere gratitude to them for their continued support, and commitment to the Queen of the Land Festival.
“We are also delighted to have the Irish Farmers’ Journal on board again, this year, as our media partners and we thank them for their coverage of this year’s festival. In addition, we would like to thank all of our associate sponsors, for their generosity, support, and loyalty to our festival”.
Founded in 1964, the festival has gone from strength to strength.
“We have pulled out all the stops to ensure that the 2016 WR Shaw Queen of the Land Festival is the best yet, with a superb line-up of entertainment,” said Mr Mahon.
This year’s judges are Christine Buckley, reigning WR Shaw Queen of the Land, 2015; Billy Shaw, of WR Shaw; and Anna Marie McHugh, National Ploughing Association representative and Queen of the Land in 1989.
The MC for the weekend is comedian and impersonator, Frank Forde.
Events will get underway on the Friday, when the queens will take a tour of Clonmacnoise and the Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre.
At 7pm that night, the official opening ceremony will take place in Bridge House, followed by entertainment in the Palace nightclub. Entry is €10 at the door.
On the Saturday, at 3pm, the Queens will be introduced to their escorts at Hugh Lynch’s Bar, and at 8pm will be interviewed by Frank Forde in Bridge House Hotel.
Tickets are €15 at the door and there will be music afterwards, from Megabeat, Legacy, and Joe Wynne, with a DJ until late.
On the Sunday, at 6pm, the queens and their escorts will pose for official photographs at Bridge House Hotel, before the festival gala banquet at 7pm. Tickets are €35 and must be booked in advance.
From 9.30pm, there will be music from The Greatest Day, followed by a DJ. Tickets are €15 at the door.
At midnight, the official crowning will take place, with the celebrations continuing into the early hours.
For more on the events and banquet ticket details, log onto www.queenofthelandfestival.com
