M Magazine Summer 2013 - Macra na Feirme

m
Tipp charmer is...
Mr Personality
The eighth annual Mr Personality
Festival took place in the Springhill
Court Hotel, Kilkenny, on the
weekend of 19 and 20 April. The festival
was hosted by Kilkenny Macra and was
sponsored by Kilkenny/Carlow and
District Farm Relief Services. Thirty contestants
from all over Ireland travelled to
the Marble City for a fun-filled weekend,
where they were interviewed on stage
with an optional party piece, completed
challenges and were interviewed by the
three judges — Carmel Brennan, Mr
Personality committee member, Clara
Walsh, Midlands 103FM and John Nolan,
Freshford Macra. The informal banquet
was attended by over 400 people.
The result was announced at midnight
on the Saturday night with
Paudie Meade from North
Tipperary becoming Mr
Personality. 2013. In second
place was Gerard Mahon from Offaly and
in third place was Brendan Phelan from
Kilkenny. Paudie was presented with a
€500 cheque, a perpetual trophy and a
weekend break in any of the Brennan Hotels.
Gerard received a trophy, a cheque
for €300 and a midweek break in any
of the Brennan Hotels, while Brendan
received a trophy, €200 and a
weekend break in the Aspect
Hotel in
Kilkenny.
Mr. Personality 2013, Paudie, is from
the Devilsbit Macra and is a dairy farmer.
Paudie’s hobbies and interests include
hurling, showing pedigree cattle and
swimming. Gerard is a livestock auctioneer/estate
agent from Killoughey Macra
in Offaly and Brendan is a civil/project
engineer from Callan Macra in Kilkenny.
A
Winner Paudie Meade from
North Tipperary is pictured
with John Connolly, Carlow
Kilkenny Farm Relief Services
and Denis Drennan, Macra.
Northwest King
and Queen
crowned at
elegant event
Kings and Queens contestants with newly crowned Northwest King and Queen 2013, MCs and
judges, including celebrity judge Marian Harkin, MEP.
Congratulations to Eamon Sweeney
from South Leitrim Macra and Ann Marie
O’Neill from neighbouring Sligo (South
Sligo Club) who were crowned the
Northwest King and Queen 2013 on 26
January in the Sligo Park Hotel.
Between them, they beat off stiff competition
as they worked their way through
the novel tasks. Their teamwork, nerves
and memory were tested as well as their
concentration. There was great excitement
from the Leitrim and Sligo supporters
when Ann Marie and Eamon were
announced as winners. The judges: MEP
Marian Harkin, Mary Guihen (Northwest
Queen 2012) and Brian Casey (Northwest
King 2012) had a tough decision
Eamon and Ann Marie’s teamwork and
quick thinking got them to the end in
record time.
Leitrim man Eamon Sweeney said he
was delighted to follow in the footsteps of
Mary Guihen (2012 winner) and Josephine
McManus (2010 winner) in bringing
a Northwest crown to Leitrim for the third
time. Ann Marie O’Neill was thrilled to be
and, especially, to win in the presence of
such a large number of Sligo supporters.
It was such a great night and winning
was a shock but it was the icing on the
cake for Ann Marie.
It was an exciting evening for all, with
a sell-out banquet and large attendance
joined in with the royal celebrations after
the banquet. DJ Nugent had the dance
mix of hits and variety of music to suit all
tastes.
24 | m | Summer 2013