The search begins for the London Mary from Dungloe, Donegal
The search is on for the 2024 London Mary from Dungloe. The winner will represent London at the Mary from Dungloe International Arts Festival in Ireland on 27 July–5 August 2024. Past winners Erin Doohan (left) and Caitlin Finn (right) say the competition transformed their lives.
Claiming the coveted London Mary from Dungloe title was a “transformational experience,” says Caitlin Finn, the bubbly 22-year-old who won the competition last year.
Caitlin, who was born in London but grew up in Ballybofey, travelled to Dungloe in Ireland to represent the city of London at the famous Mary from Dungloe International Arts Festival. Little did she know that she would win the whole competition beating Mary representatives from all over the world and taking home a trove of prizes.
“It was an experience I will never forget,” Caitlin says. “The lifelong friends that I made, all the people that I met in Dungloe, and the opportunity to promote London’s Irish community and be a proud ambassador for Donegal. It will honestly stay with me for life.”
The Mary From Dungloe International Arts Festival has been held annually for the past 55 years in the town of Dungloe and centres around the pageant which finds representatives – affectionately dubbed ‘Mary’ – who best embodies the spirit of the festival, and who will be an inspiring ambassador for the county of Donegal.
She is named ‘Mary From Dungloe’ for a 12-month period and acts as an official ambassador for the festival, the community and the county; promoting the essence of Irish pride.
The festival, inspired by the song ‘Mary From Dungloe’, attracts tens of thousands of visitors from around Ireland and all over the world to the town of Dungloe every year. Irish emigrant communities from around the globe take part in the festival by nominating a candidate from their city to represent them at the international pageant in Donegal.
There are Mary representatives from all over the globe, including London, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Sydney, Dubai, Glasgow, Chicago, Melbourne, Spain, India, San Francisco, Miami, Manchester, New Jersey and New York.
The current London Mary title holder, Erin Doohan, 25, a primary school teacher, is proud to promote Donegal, and of keeping the spirit of the festival alive with her global Mary family.
“I love being the London Mary representative, and I feel it’s important I stay in contact with the other Mary’s, and that together we promote the festival around the globe,” Erin says.
“I’m close with Adele Morgan in Dubai, who is the 2023 Mary from Dungloe, and with Mary from Glasgow and the Marys from the East Coast of America. When I was in New York, we celebrated the Mary from Dungloe festival and our shared camaraderie and experiences, and how proud we are to be representatives of Donegal and of a global Irish community.”
London Mary is a popular competition for representatives of Irish descent who live in London. It is open to females aged between 18 and 35 who have a connection with Ireland, and who will be an ambassador for Donegal in the British capital.
A judging committee will select the 2024 London Mary winner, to be announced next March. She will go on to the International Mary from Dungloe pageant, held during the Dungloe International Arts Festival in Donegal, Ireland from 27 July to 5 August 2024.
The London Mary representative will receive sponsorship to attend the legacy event where fantastic prizes are on offer and the opportunity to attend events, support great causes and be a global ambassador for Donegal.
The search is now open for the 2024 London Mary from Dungloe. To apply,
send an email to
info@londonmaryfromdungloe.co.uk.
2024 LONDON MARY FROM DUNGLOE
Calling all London-based females aged 18–35 with a connection to Ireland.
The 2024 London Mary from Dungloe winner will be announced in March.
She will represent London alongside Mary’s from all over the world at the famous
Mary from Dungloe International Arts Festival in Ireland on 27 July–5 August 2024.
Enter by email to: info@londonmaryfromdungloe.co.uk
www.londonmaryfromdungloe.co.uk
Instagram: @londonmary.fromdungloe
Facebook: London Mary from Dungloe
LinkedIn: London Mary from Dungloe
PRESS RELEASE ENDS
For more information or imagery contact:
OD PR AND MEDIA
Rachel Glucina
rachel@odpr.co.uk
+44 7421 701100
The London Mary From Dungloe committee is a distinguished group of London-based individuals who all have strong Irish roots, including a number with direct Donegal connections. All are passionate about promoting Donegal in London, and selecting the best candidate as London Mary to attend The Mary From Dungloe pageant in Donegal.
The committee is:
Jacqueline O’Donovan OBE
Bridie Cunningham
Troy Gallagher
Caroline Gallagher
Peader McFadden
Jessica Kelly
