This article is from page 26 of the 2007-08-21 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 26 JPG
WEST Clare beauty Grainne Larkin has been crowned “Maiden of the Mourne’.
Grainne won the coveted title at the Warrenpoint Festival last weekend.
The 22-year-old Kilkee woman staved off competition from as far afield as America, Northern Ireland and Russia to secure the title for the Banner County.
Grainne won the Clare Maiden of
the Mourne title in Limerick during the summer.
Forty girls in total competed on that night for five titles – Miss Clare, Miss Limerick, Miss Universe repre- sentative and Maiden of the Mourne for Clare and Limerick.
The Limerick “maiden” was unable to travel to the final leaving Grainne as the only representative from the Republic of Ireland.
The Kilkee beautician enjoyed her first trip to Northern Ireland for the
festival, and could not believe she won the international competition.
“T nearly lost my life when they an- nounced the winner, my legs were shaking, I couldn’t believe it,’ she Sr HLGe
“It was definitely the best experi- ence of my life getting that crown,’ she said.
The Clare woman enjoyed the week of the festival, which is very similar to the Rose of Tralee.
“It was excellent. It was a really
good experience. We were not al- lowed to go out very late and were just allowed one glass of wine. They were every good to us and treated us like little princesses.”
The ten contestants were up every morning at 7.30am to begin their very busy schedule that went on until 10.30pm.
As well as touring Northern Ire- land, the girls were brought to Stor- mount, where Grainne’s claim to fame was sitting on First Minister Jan Paisley’s chair.
The girls also took part in a parade, visited senior citizens and youth projects, as well as paying visits to their many sponsors.
As well as the banquet ball, the contestants also had to go through numerous interviews before the Sat- urday night public interview on stage at the town hall.
Grainne was second after the break to speak to UTV news presenter Paul Clarke in front of a packed crowd. The talented woman also sang the Christy Moore song “Ride On”.
During her reign as Maiden of the Mourne, the Kilkee woman will have to return to Warrenpoint to turn on the Christmas lights, be part of the St Patrick’s Day festivities and other official functions.
Among the many prizes she re- ceived was Newbridge silverware jewellery, a designer dress and every girls’ favourite, a designer handbag.
She also received €750 on the night and will receive a second cheque for the same amount when her year is completed.
Grainne is the daughter of Delia and Patrick Larkin and has one sister Roisin.
Formerly a pupil of St Joseph’s Community College, OT rer Grainne now manages the beauty el- ement at the Sentosa Spa at the Kul- kee Bay Hotel.