Mary from Dungloe (festival)

The Mary From Dungloe International Festival is a popular Irish music festival held annually, usually at the end of July in the small town of Dungloe, County Donegal. The festival is centred on a pageant to find out which contestant has the spirit of the festival, who is then crowned "Mary From Dungloe". The winner of the contest holds this title for a year and acts as an ambassador for the festival. Irish emigrant communities from around the world, as well as some Irish counties and towns, participate by nominating a young woman, endearingly titled a "Mary", to represent their community at the contest. The festival has grown in popularity over the years and now regularly attracts tens of thousands of visitors to the area. The festival is inspired by the song "Mary from Dungloe" as the Rose of Tralee festival is by "The Rose of Tralee". In 2019, the festival celebrated its 52nd anniversary, with Roisin Maher from New York becoming Mary From Dungloe 2019.

Participating communities

Many communities around the world with links to County Donegal have their own local contests to pick their community's "Mary" who subsequently is nominated to travel to Dungloe to compete in the Mary From Dungloe contest. Irish communities who have entered contestants include:

Traditional festival events

There are a number of traditional events which are run every year as part of the festival. Here are just a few examples:

EventTraditional Location
Opening CeremonyMain St.
Introduction of MFD ContestantsMain St.
Country SundayMain St.
Lá GaelachMain St.
Open Air MusicMain St.
Art ExhibitionSharkey's Service Station / Ionad Teampaill Chróine
McGurk's Fun FairThe Cope Car Park, Quay Road
Childrens Sports DayCLG An Clochán Liath/Dungloe GAA Grounds
Men's Golf OpenCruit Island Golf Club
Ladies Golf OpenCruit Island Golf Club
Treasure HuntMain St. starting point
Annual 5K Road RaceMain St. & surrounds
Fly Fishing CompetitionDungloe Marina
Little Miss Mary CompetitionParochial Hall/ CDP na Rosann
Table QuizMaghery Community Centre/ Midway Bar & Restaurant
Junior Table QuizIonad Teampall Cróine
Social Evening with the MarysVarious
Historic Tour of the RossesDeparts Main St.
Walk the RossesDungloe area, Leitir/Lettermacaward, Maghery, Rann na Feirste, Loch an Iúir, Burtonport
Interviewing of the MFD ContestantsCarrickfinn Airport / Rosses Community School
Bonny Baby ShowParochial Hall
Daniel O'Donnell in ConcertFestival Dome
Carnival ParadeMain St.
Band CompetitionMain St.
MFD Contest FinalFestival Dome / Ionad Spóirt na Rosann
Gala BallWaterfront Hotel
Closing CeremonyMain St.

2024 Contestants

The 2024 'Marys' for the festival are as follows:

Contest winners

Below is a complete list of contest winners from 1968 to 2023.

YearWinnerRepresentedOriginally FromAge
1968Celine Powell[12][13]DublinGalway
1969Marie McGlinchey[14]Donegal
1970Monina HughesArmagh
1971Gloria O'BoyleDonegalBunbeg, Gweedore
1972Carole Mary Carr[14]Limerick
1973Nora Boyle[14]DonegalBurndennet, County Tyrone
1974Maribel Lopez Del Hoya[14]Spain
1975Maureen Temple[15][16]Londonderry
1976Anne Marie McDaid[15][16]Derry
1977Sheila T Boyle[14]Bayonne
1978Bernice McElroy[17]DownWarrenpoint, County Down18
1979Ann O'CallaghanLouth
1980Marie Coyle[13]Glasgow
1981Noreen Galligan[18]An Ghaeltacht
1982Debbie O'Brien[19]Manchester17
1983Máire McCole[20][13]Dungloe
1984Anne Marie Moloney[13]New YorkJackson Heights18
1985Sheila Hughes[13]Mayo
1986Linda Farrell[21]Louth22
1987Maria McGovern[20][13]DublinDublin
1988Maureen Connelly[14]Wilkes-Barre, PennsylvaniaNew York24
1989Carmel Kelly[22]DonegalDonegal
1990Anne Marie Downes[14]Louth
1991Pamela Sheridan[23]Meath
1992Paula O'Reilly[24][13]Monaghan
1993Samantha Pairman[25]North East England
1994Sarah Mulholland[25][13]DungloeKincasslagh21
1995Kathleen McMahon[13]New YorkNew York20
1996Siobhan BignellMelbourneLondon, England24
1997Heather Stewart[26]Edinburgh
1998Brighid WilliamsSydney
1999Ciara Diver[16]DerryPortstewart, County Londonderry
2000Shirley McGlynn[27]ManchesterDublin21
2001Fiona Callan[28][29]WicklowWicklow19
2002Jolene McMonagle[29]An GhealtachtFalcarragh22
2003Aisling Friel[30]GlasgowGlasgow21
2004Lisa Mc Kelvey[31]DungloeDungloe20
2005Katie Armstrong[32]PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia25
2006Jennifer HaltonKildareKildare22
2007Kerry Sweeney[26]EdinburghEdinburgh21
2008Una Rooney[33]ArmaghArmagh24
2009Kate Ferguson[16]DerryDerry25
2010Jemma Ferry[34][26]EdinburghEdinburgh22
2011Debbie Rodgers[35]DungloeBurtonport21
2012Meghan Davis[36]PhiladelphiaWilkes-Barre, PA26
2013Grace Sweeney[37]GlasgowGlasgow27
2014Kate Linsay[38]SydneySydney19
2015Siobhan Dunn[39][26]EdinburghEdinburgh28
2016Eva Ní Dhoibhlinn[40]GaeltachtGweedore20
2017Alisha Medford[41]GlasgowGlasgow20
2018Caroline O'Donnell[42]DungloeLeffin25
2019–2022Róisín Maher[43]New YorkCarlow27
2021 Virtual MaryAlannagh Nic Fhloinn[44]Pleanáil Teanga (Gaeltacht)Sheskinarone22
2022Caitlin Finn[45]LondonBallybofey London Letterkenny21
2023Adele Morgan[46]Dubai

Glasgow

 28

Entertainers and musicians

Many Irish and international acts have performed at the festival over the years. The traditional annual crowd puller, however, continues to be internationally renowned folk singer Daniel O'Donnell, who made his festival debut in 1985.

Famous comperes

The Mary From Dungloe contest final has been compered by a number of famous faces.

References
  1. "Marys2024 – Mary From Dungloe". maryfromdungloe.ie. Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  2. "Massive Congratulations to our new Birmingham Mary this year, Niamh Kerrigan. ..." www.facebook.com. 14 April 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  3. Gallagher, Aoife (13 May 2024). "Mary mayhem as five more selected for Dungloe Festival lineup". www.donegallive.ie. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  4. McLoughlin, Laura (24 March 2024). "Letterkenny woman selected to represent Donegal in Mary from Dungloe Festival". Donegal News. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  5. "MEET OUR U.A.E. MARY - Mary from Dungloe International Arts Festival". Facebook. 24 May 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  6. Meehan, Dionne (9 January 2024). "Young Dungloe girl selected to represent town at 2024 festival". Donegal News. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  7. Gallagher, Aoife (28 April 2024). "Leah McDaid set to represent the Gaeltacht at The Mary From Dungloe". www.donegallive.ie. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  8. Gallagher, Aoife (15 March 2024). "Mairead McEnroe selected to represent Glasgow at Mary From Dungloe". www.donegallive.ie. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  9. Gallagher, Aoife (14 March 2024). "Kyna Boyle selected to represent London at the Mary From Dungloe Arts Festival". www.donegallive.ie. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  10. "Glasgow 'MARY' and NYMFD Emcee Roisin Moran Brady presenting sash to the 2024 NY MFD 'Mary' Caitlin Therese Ward ,,, - Mary Dungloe". Facebook. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  11. "Our 2024 Philadelphia Philadelphia Mary.. Scarlett Catalfamo!!! 💚💛💃🎉👑". www.facebook.com. 3 December 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
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  14. "Mary Dungloe – Hi all, we are trying to get in contact with the ... |". 4 February 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2024 – via Facebook.
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  25. "Daniel O'Donnell – Myself and Majella with Samantha Pairman who was Mary From Dungloe in 1993 and Sarah Mulholland who was Mary From Dungloe in 1994. Both girls worked in the Viking House. | Facebook". 30 July 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2024 – via Facebook.
  26. McLoughlin, Laura (22 January 2023). "Keadue dentist retires from Edinburgh practice". Donegal News. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  27. Brett, Sarah (26 April 2001). "NORTHWEST – Kennedy to perform at Mary from Dungloe". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  28. "Wicklow beauty wins Mary title". The Irish Times. 7 August 2001. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  29. McGarvey, Eoin (5 August 2002). "Daniel gets diet tips as Gaeltacht girl steals show". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  30. McGarvey, Eoin (4 August 2003). "Falling apart at the seams . . . Aisling in stitches after festival win". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  31. McGarvey, Eoin (2 August 2004). "'Hometown' decision as Mary from Dungloe title goes to local". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  32. McGarvey, Eoin (1 August 2005). "Mary from Dungloe title win is just the tonic for US nurse Katie". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  33. Hogan, Louise (4 August 2008). "Bizarre meets beautiful over weekend of festivals". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
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  36. Walsh, Jane (7 August 2012). "Philadelphia woman wins 45th Mary from Dungloe competition". IrishCentral.com. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  37. "MARY WINS THE FESTIVAL CROWN WITH A BROKEN LEG". Donegal Daily. 7 August 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  38. Blake Knox, Kirsty (5 August 2014). "Kate from Down Under is crowned Mary from Dungloe". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
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  40. "Gaeltacht Mary, Eva Ni Dhoibhlinn crowned Mary from Dungloe 2016". Highland Radio – Latest Donegal News and Sport. 1 August 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
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  42. Maguire, Stephen (6 August 2018). "Local woman Caroline scoops this year's Mary from Dungloe crown". Donegal Daily. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  43. Sanz, Catherine (5 August 2019). "Construction manager wins the 2019 Mary from Dungloe crown". The Irish Times. Dungloe. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  44. Ashmore, Chris. "Winner of 2021 Virtual Mary From Dungloe is announced". donegallive.ie. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  45. "'London Mary' Caitlin is the 2022 Mary from Dungloe". Donegal Daily. 31 July 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  46. Doherty, Diarmaid (7 August 2023). "Adele selected as 2023 Mary from Dungloe". Donegal News. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  47. "We've had some... – Mary From Dungloe International Arts Festival". 16 May 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2024 – via Facebook.
  48. "RTÉ Archives on X: "Emmet Spiceland with Donal Lunny play ..."". 30 July 2017 – via Twitter.
  49. McCallig, Elaine (5 August 2017). "Hundreds attend Nathan Carter gig in Dungloe". Donegal Daily. Retrieved 2 February 2024.

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