Redheads rule at Crosshaven international convention

Newly crowned Queen of the Redheads Emma Ní Chearuil admits growing up with red hair wasn’t always easy, but she maintains you eventually take pride in your tresses and feel blessed for the gift of a rare hair colour.

Emma, who works for Aras na Gaeilge in Galway, won the colourful title in Crosshaven, Co Cork, over the weekend after entering the competition on a whim.

“I can’t believe I won. It is just a great opportunity. I will be doing events with the Irish Cancer Society and the St Patrick’s day parade and there is talk of us going to the International Redhead Convention in the Netherlands. When you have red hair, when you are young you want to fit in or you rebel against it. But I grew up to eventually appreciate my hair. And there are young kids here today with red hair and they are proud of it.”