Macra Alison Sinnott crowned Blue Jeans Country Queen
Alison Sinnott from Wexford was crowned Blue Jeans Country Queen last weekend at the 30th annual festival in Athboy, Co Meath.
Blue Jean Country Queens from across the country, and from overseas, were welcomed to the town by Meath Macra na Feirme, organisers of the event.
The festival, sponsored by Athboy Credit Union, included family-friendly events and live music, including a performance by Trevor Smith and Friends in Low Places – The Ultimate Garth Brooks Experience.
Country singer Philomena Begley, whose song inspired the festival, sent a special video message to organisers, congratulating them on the festival’s continuing success.
The contestants headed to the Causey Farm Experience for a team-building exercise as part of the festival, which was officially opened by Tina Growney, Athboy community Person of the Year, in the Darnley Lodge Hotel, the venue for much of the events.
Joe Healy interviewed the 2017 contestants on stage in front of a packed house before Alison was announced as the winner last Sunday night.
On Saturday, a street carnival and craft fair took over the main street of Athboy and featured a Great Blue Jean Bake Off, a children’s drama workshop, sideshows from the nine Meath Macra na Feirme clubs and local community groups, as well as musical performances.
A 30th anniversary celebration, featuring music by DJ John Bird and memorabilia from the festival down through the years also took place.
Sunday’s Lark in the Park in the Fair Green saw the queensswap their heels for the football boots, in a Reeling in the Years fancy-dress football match.
Along with the title of 2017 Blue Jean Country Queen, Alison received €1,000 in prize money, sponsored by Athboy Credit Union, as well as a tiara and a sash.
The runner-up will be awarded €500 from Forefront Nutrition, while the contestant in third place will receive €300 from M&G Groundworks.
This year’s festival was judged by inaugural Queen Samantha Baldwin, who returned to Athboy for the first time since she won the competition in 1987.
Samantha was joined by returning judge John Conway, a former Macra Leinster vice president and John Thompson from the Ulster Young Farmers Clubs.
macra@examiner.ie
