Kate aims to promote Dungloe fest in Sligo
SLIGO’S Kate Healy says the ‘ Mary of Dungloe’ Festival’ was a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Twenty- one- year- old Kate, from the Strandhill Road, said she wants to promote the event to women in Sligo who may not be aware of the festival which takes place in Donegal each year, celebrating its 50th year in 2017.
“It’s nearly unknown in Sligo. Thousands of people go there for the festival. During the parade, the streets were lined with people,” she told The Sligo Champion.
“In other places they would have a selection night but here it was just me and one other girl who put our names forward. She then got a job in Scotland so she moved and wasn’t around for the festival so I was automatically put through.
“I think it would be lovely if there was a selection night for next year,” she added.
Kate, who is a final year student in DCU, said all the ‘ Marys’ were treated like royalty during the ten days in Donegal. “IT was brilliant. We were there for ten days. None of us knew each other. So we met on the Saturday, we were doing different things everyday. A lot of it was visiting sponsors, we visited castles and things like that too.
“There was so much food and we got champagne receptions wherever we went. Nathan Carter played for us, there was a fashion show in honour of a lady who was once involved with the festival who has passed away - that was amazing.
“There was a gala ball that all of our families came to. Then there was a selection night and then a parade,” she explained.
Kate learned about the festival through a cousin, who last year was the Wild Atlantic Way Mary. “There’s very little about it here in Sligo. “My cousin was Wild Atlantic Way Mary last year, I was on holidays but my family went along to it and they said it was brilliant so my cousin said I had to do it, so I put my name forward.
“It’s so different to what you’d usually do. I was saying to the girls that we only knew each other a few days but it was as if we were best friends.
You’re treated like princesses,” she added. For the duration of her time as the Sligo Mary, Kate will operate in an ambassadorial role, to some extent: “It’s up to each individual Mary what they do. I’d hope to do a few things. Next year I’ll have to find the next Mary.”
This year’s Mary of Dungloe Festival was won by the Glasgow Mary, Alisha Medford.