Limerick woman to fly the flag at Country Queen Festival

LIMERICK woman Niamh Enright will take to the stage at this year’s Blue Jean Country Queen Festival this week.

The Coolcappa native will be representing Limerick Macra at the festival which is organised by Meath Macra na Feirme in collaboration with the Athboy community.

The 21-year-old is one of 23 young women taking part in the competition in Meath with events taking place across the weekend.

Contestants hail from Macra clubs nationwide, alongside a queen from Latvia.

Macra na Feirme is a voluntary rural youth organisation for 17-35-year-olds. Its key activities include agriculture, sport, travel, public speaking, performing arts and community involvement. It also puts an emphasis on social interaction and participation

Niamh will embark on a unique experience, starting with a fun team-building exercise at Causey Farm with her fellow queens, followed by meeting her local host family, with whom she’ll stay for the duration of the weekend.

Niamh is a member of West Limerick Macra and a fourth year nursing student at the University of Limerick. She is currently working as an intern nurse at University Hospital Limerick.

She enjoys a variety of hobbies including sports, farming, and socialising. She also admits to driving around roundabouts the wrong way and indulging in naps, even during nights out!

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Niamh will take part in a private interview with the judges and will then get to enjoy a family fun day and barbecue.

Later that evening the queens will take part in public interviews before dancing the night away with some live music.

The next day Niamh will lead a procession through Athboy’s main street towards the Fair Green for Lark in the Park.

The day’s highlight is the Barbenheimer-themed fancy-dress football match as the queens reprise last summer’s big box office clash.

After a formal banquet, the queens will don their jeans again for the crowning ceremony before finishing the night with a celebratory dance.

While the weekend promises ample fun, there’s also a prestigious title at stake. The 2024 Blue Jean Country Queen will receive a tiara, golden sash, and perpetual cup presented by the 2023 queen, Niamh Sheehy.

Additionally, the first prize winner will receive €1,000 from Athboy Credit Union, with second and third prize winners receiving €500 and €300 respectively from Turmec Recycling and Farrelly Tree Service Ltd.