Published: Friday, 20th November, 2009 11:00am

Offaly woman wins Queen of the Land

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An Offaly woman has walked away with this year's Queen of the Land title.

Offaly Queen Sinead Mulcahy was crowned the 2009 Irish Farmers Journal Queen of the Land on Sunday, with first runner up going to Maire Therese Kennedy representing Kilkenny and Michelle Collins from Carlow announced as the second runner up.

Representing the Shinrone Club, though originally from Limerick, Sinead was extremely surprised but shocked to win the title. Carried shoulder high through the crowds Sinead was treated to thunderous applause.

The weekend began on Friday when the 27 queens from all corners of Ireland were entertained by comedians John Collery and PJ Gallagher in The Bridge House Hotel.

Saturday morning the judges, Annette Meacle, chairwoman of the judging panel, Kate Harrison reigning Irish Farmers Journal Queen of the Land and, representing the Irish Farmers Journal Darren Carty, interviewed the queens.

The queens were introduced to 27 fine Macra escorts in The Wolf Trap and Saturday night continued up in the Tullamore Court Hotel and they were put through their paces on stage by MC for the weekend Deric Hartigan from TV3 and correspondent for RSVP.

The Lols provided the music until the wee hours of the morning.

Sunday morning after rehearsals and Mass the queens were treated to a historical tour of Tullamore with local solicitor and historian Michael Byrne.