A 25-YEAR-OLD trainee solicitor from Co Derry has been crowned the 42nd Mary from Dungloe. Kate Ferguson from Portstewart took top honours at the festival’s crowning cabaret on Sunday night where TV personality Gerry Kelly was back at the festival to interview the girls on stage.
“It’s been a great week. I’ve made so many new friends and have really had the week of my life. This has been my first time in Dungloe, but it will certainly not be my last,” she told Kelly.
Trainee solicitor Kate has just completed working with the Ryan commission in Dublin and is now about to start her final apprenticeship. She described the Ryan work as “very sad indeed” but said it was a great legal experience for her.
Last year’s winner Una Rooney from Armagh crowned her the 42nd Mary from Dungloe. For her party piece Kate played the Derry Air on her clarinet. She was presented with €1,000, Newbridge jewellery and Galway crystal among other prizes.
Her escort for the weekend was local man Brendan Breslin who said she was a winner from the start.
This is Derry’s fourth time winning the Mary from Dungloe final in the festival’s 42-year history. Maureen Temple won it in 1975, Anne Marie McDaid in 1976 and Ciara Diver in 1999.
This year’s Little Miss Mary from Dungloe, Áine Mc Garvey (6), from Loughanure, Co Donegal, was also on stage to greet the winner. Áine is the third in her family to take the title. Her big sister Aoife won it in 2003 and her mum Marie took the same title in 1985.
“It is fun and I like being the wee Mary. The girls were all very good to me and everybody was waving to me at the parade,” she said.
Her escort, Conor McGee (9), from Dungloe is the second in his family to win Little Mr Escort. His brother Shaun won it in 2007.
The festival that had been in jeopardy a few years ago because of huge financial issues has made a comeback in the past two years under a new team of organisers.
Nearly 2,500 people attended the Saw Doctors street concert earlier in the week and despite some inclement weather all events were successful.
Co-ordinator Tricia Gallagher said she was very pleased at how everything went for them this year. “We are delighted with the selection.
“Kate is a beautiful and personable girl and I’m sure she will be a fantastic ambassador for the festival, for Dungloe and Donegal.”