SHANNON’S Rebecca O’Neill has been crowned Miss Clare 2020. The beauty therapist will now go on to represent Clare in the Miss Ireland finals, with Rebecca saying she wants to use this platform to inspire the younger generation to get involved in local charities. Rebecca also wants to promote positivity and well being in her local community.
The 19-year-old was presented with the crown at the combined Miss Tipperary, Miss Limerick & Miss Clare (Miss TLC) virtual event which took place on Facebook Live on Sunday. This year marked the unprecedented merger of the three events events due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Siobhan Fitzpatrick from Kilmaley was named first runner-up in Miss Clare and is looking forward to the the Miss Ireland semi-finals in a few weeks time.
MC for the event was former Miss Clare Lauren Guilfoyle while male model and blogger Patrick McLoughney and Former Miss Sunday World and Miss Tipperary Esme Mansergh Wallace directed. The team were keen to stress the safety measures that were taken for the event to happen. Esme said, “We really wanted to make this event possible so that the contestants could have something to look forward to and dress up for, as this is something we have all been starved of for the last six months and who knows for how long more? But we knew the only way that this event could happen was if there were extreme Covid safety measures put in place, such as face coverings, temperature checks, social distancing and frequent hand sanitisation. We are truly delighted with the results and we really feel that the girls have all had a really positive experience despite the lack of a live crowd and some of the traditional elements of a Miss Ireland heat”.
Also on the night the Miss Limerick crown went to Kyla McGowan, 19, from Newcastlewest and Maeve Yee, 22, from Cashel was crowned Miss Tipperary 2020.
The winners of Miss Clare, Miss Limerick and Miss Tipperary will compete in the final of Miss Ireland 2020 later this year.
Patrick added, “We are delighted with how the event went and the response and feedback we’ve gotten from the contestants, their families and everyone who watched online. It was a massive challenge to make this event happen while adhering to government safety standards and ensuring the safety of everyone involved at all times. We were under a lot of pressure to make this happen and happen safely but with the event management expertise given to me by my good friend James Hayes from Blue Streak events, the Miss Ireland experience of Esme and my own knowledge of the modelling and entertainment industry we managed to put on a show that did justice to the “Emma has been a credit to her county during her year as Miss Clare. We would like to wish Emma every success with all of her future endeavours.”