Mayo is hosting Miss Ireland for first time this weekend

The TF Royal Theatre, Castlebar, is hosting the 75th Miss Ireland for the first time this weekend.

It opens with the Diamond Ball at the venue this evening (Friday) with the Grand Final tomorrow night.

There is expected to be a carnival atmosphere at the hotel from 6 p.m. as the contestants and their families and supporters begin to arrive.

Up to 37 contestants ate vying for the prestigious crown.

Castlebar Concert Band will be performing outside the venue to help build up the excitement.

Mayo is represented by Castlebar's Lauren Forkan.

Aged 22, Lauren works full time in Harvey Norman and enjoys her role in the company.

She has a very artistic side to her that she shows through her makeup and loves people to feel comfortable in their own skin and really pushes for Natural beauty.

Lauren also has a musical side to her. She has been given lead roles in musicals and has done choirs when she was young.

She is very passionate about music and loves to sing whenever she gets the chance.

Miss Ireland was established in 1947 and in recent years the Miss Ireland Franchise has raised hundreds of thousands of euros for charities.

This year's winner will receive an agency contract and a host of prizes that will include jewellery, dresses, photo shoots, beauty and hair products, and then jet off to represent Ireland at the Miss World Festival which is televised around the world.

The winner will also enjoy an all-expenses paid trip to the Maldives to do a photoshoot later in the autumn.

The main sponsors are Tan Organic.

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