A woman from Kilcullen, Co. Kildare – Emma Birchall – took home a plethora of prizes after being crowned the 53rd W.R. Shaw Queen of the Land Festival winner for 2017.

Taking place in Tullamore, Co. Offaly, over the weekend, the festival winner was revealed in the Bridge House Hotel last night (Sunday, November 12).

The 2nd runner-up was Melissa Glynn from Cranmore outside Athlone in Co. Roscommon and 3rd runner up was Lucy McClymont from Dumfries in the Dumfries and Galloway region in Scotland.

As the winner, Birchall was presented with: the W.R. Shaw Queen of the Land Linda O’Brien tiara; the W.R. Shaw sponsored perpetual trophy; the W.R. Shaw sponsored €1,000 prize; a specially commissioned piece of Galway Crystal from Cahill Jewellers; a two night break in the Bridge House Hotel; and a €200 clothing voucher from Kode Clothing.

Meanwhile, the Escort of the Year – which was selected by the queens – was named as Fergus O’Rourke. He received a weekend stay for two in the Bridge House Hotel and a €300 clothing voucher from Guy Clothing.

Queen of the Land

Kildare’s Emma Birchall was crowned the W.R. Shaw Queen of the Land for 2017 with Head Escorts Fergal Leonard and Ronan Phelan. Image source: Paul Moore

Judge and reigning queen Karen Eliffe complimented the 2017 queens for being excellent ambassadors for their clubs and counties while announcing the winners, as well as wishing Birchall the very best of luck in the year ahead.

Meanwhile, the chairperson of the committee – Gerard Mahon – paid tribute to the 31 queens who took part.

The committee is very much looking forward to working with Emma during the year. She will make an excellent ambassador for the W.R. Shaw Queen of the Land Festival.

“We have had another successful Queen of the Land festival, thanks in no small part to our main sponsors W.R. Shaw, the associate sponsors, committee and the travelling supporters that came from all over the country and beyond to Tullamore for the weekend,” he said.

Some 31 queens from all over the country – as well as queens from England, Scotland and Northern Ireland – took part in this year’s festival. Huge crowds were attracted the course of the weekend, according to organisers.

During the festival, contestants were judged on a range of attributes – including appearance, dress sense, rural knowledge and elocution.