Ava Kate Rattigan to Represent Mayo at Miss Ireland Grand Final

Contenders Prepare for the 78th Miss Ireland Grand Final in Dundalk

The competition celebrates confidence, ambition, and individual achievement, bringing together finalists, former titleholders, and special guests for an evening of entertainment.

The reigning titleholder, Caoimhe Kenny from Blackrock, spent five weeks representing Ireland in Vietnam earlier this year and will crown her successor at the conclusion of the November 21st final.

Local Finalists Step Into the Spotlight Across Counties Mayo, Louth, Waterford, and Galway

Representing Mayo, Ava Kate Rattigan balances her ambitions with her work as a home carer. She began working at the age of 14, gaining experience in responsibility, independence, and hard work. She is also committed to charitable work, having raised more than €1,000 for Western Alzheimer’s to support individuals living with the condition and their families.

In County Louth, 20-year-old Sophie Kinsella from Drogheda will represent her home county. Sophie is the youngest of six girls, graduated from Ballymakenny College in 2023, and completed a QQI Level 5 qualification in TV & Film Production at Drogheda Institute of Further Education in 2024. She is currently entering her final year at Dublin City University studying multimedia, hoping to keep the Miss Ireland crown in County Louth following Caoimhe Kenny’s tenure.

Meanwhile, Waterford City will be represented by 22-year-old Loren Flynn. A recent graduate of SETU Waterford with a BA (Hons) in Psychology, Loren works as an Assistant Support Worker for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Her personal cardiac health journey shaped her decision to enter the competition, aiming to raise awareness of women’s cardiac health, mental health, and the impact of loneliness while advocating for the Samaritans.

In County Galway, 22-year-old Erin Dunleavy, a final-year marketing and sales student at ATU (Atlantic Technology University), secured the Miss Galway crown. Encouraged by a friend to use the platform to raise awareness about chronic pain—a condition affecting an estimated one in three people in Ireland—Erin chose Chronic Pain Ireland as her primary charity. She is also raising funds for the Ronald McDonald House to prepare 150 pampers for families staying there while their children attend Crumlin’s Children’s Hospital.