Miss Wexford wins social media award
RAHEEN woman Nellie Ryan was cheering on her granddaughter Lucy Butler who represented County Wexford in the Miss Ireland competition in the Helix in Dublin.
Lucy came in the top eight and won the social media award on the night. She proudly wore the Miss Wexford sash in the Miss Ireland final, despite hailing from County Tipperary, but it is her Wexford roots which saw her through to getting the chance to live her dream of participating in the competition.
Lucy said: ‘For the competition, I was given the title of Miss Wexford. A Tipperary woman, who entered Miss Cork, now titled Miss Wexford?? There’s a story behind that one! My grandmother, Nellie Ryan, from Fethard is a Wexford woman. She met her husband, the late Pat Ryan in New Ros. Growing up, Wexford always held a special place in my heart.’
Proving her Wexford bona fides she said: ‘My mother would tell me stories of her childhood summers spent in New Ross with her own grandparents, a lot of the time picking strawberries. I was so proud to be Miss Wexford to honour my grandmother’s roots there. In fact, my great-great-grandmother was “crowned” the tallest woman in Wexford many moons ago!’ She moved to Cork to go to UCC where she studied Commerce as her undergrad and recently completed her masters in Electronic Business.
Earlier this year, Lucy entered the Miss Cork competition, coming runner-up, before being picked as the Wexford entrant.
‘I am absolutely delighted with my achievements. I got to meet so many successful Irish business people such as Suzanne Jackson and Rosanna Davidson, for example. I am excited for what is in store for me in my future. The Miss Ireland competition has given me a great platform to pursue my marketing career and also my modelling career. I have just been nominated for a Hi Style award for Most Stylish Model 2018. All in all, it has been the most spectacular experience,’ Lucy said.