Mairead represents offaly in queen of the land
The 50th FBD Queen of the Land Festival takes place this weekend in Tullamore and Maireád Madden, a member of Tullamore Macra, will be flying the county flag at the festival.
The Queen of the Land takes place in the Bridge House Hotel from today (Friday) until Sunday. Maireád, who is from Clonfert, Co. Galway, has been a member of Tullamore Macra for just over a year. PRO for Tullamore Macra and Competitions Secretary for Offaly Macra, Maireád is also a primary school teacher working in Gortanumera N.S. near Portumna, Co. Galway.
Mairéad has a busy weekend ahead of her as a fantastic programme of events is planned for the 50th anniversary of the FBD Queen of the Land festival. This year’s festival has 28 Queens competing for the title of FBD Queen of the Land 2014, including a representative from Scotland and will attract visitors from all over the 26 counties and beyond to Tullamore this weekend.
It all kicks off today (Friday) at 6.15pm with a vintage car parade for the queens and their princesses through Tullamore, followed by the official opening ceremony of the FBD Queen of the Land Festival 2014 in O’Connor Square, Tullamore. The 50th anniversary gala banquet to honour past winners in the Bridge House Hotel will take place afterwards with music by Declan Nerney.
Saturday morning sees the contestants being interviewed by a panel of judges, including 2013 Queen of the Land winner Geraldine Barrett, former Macra na Feirme President Alan Jagoe, FBD representative Alan Geraghty and the 25th winner of Queen of the Land Anna Marie McHugh.
Also on Saturday, on Bridge Street in Tullamore there will be children’s entertainment, tug of war competitions, and Abbey Folk will be playing on the bandstand, while in Hugh Lynch’s Bar, the queens will be introduced to their escorts for the weekend.
Saturday evening sees the on-stage interviews in The Bridge House Hotel by Deric Hartigan, TV3e. Music afterwards by Transmitter, Ruaile Buaile and Rock on Paddy.
Sunday morning once again sees an early start for the queens as they will be brought on a tour of Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre before attending Mass. Entertainment and refreshments in Bridge Centre Shopping Centre will follow.
Official photographs and the gala banquet commences in the Bridge House Hotel on Sunday evening followed by music by Fiesta. The crowning of the 2014 FBD Queen of the Land will be announced at 12 midnight.
Offaly Macra wishes Mairéad the best of luck representing the county this weekend.
If you wish to attend or want to find out about tickets, full details are available at www.queenofthelandfestival.com or contact the Bridge House Hotel Tullamore.