Mayo's Joanne bids for Blue Jean crown

JOANNE Malone is Mayo's representative in the 2026 Blue Jean Country Queen Festival, organised by Meath Macra na Feirme in collaboration with the community of Athboy.

The 21 young women contesting the event will arrive in Athboy for this year's festival on May 29 where Meath Macra na Feirme and the local community have planned a huge array of events, including two free family fun days, a free barbecue, karaoke, and a weekend full of night-time entertainment. Entries this year come from Macra clubs all over Ireland, as well as Northern Ireland and France.

Joanne is a member of Castlebar Macra and is a medical lab aide. Her hobbies include farming, along with playing Gaelic and soccer. She also enjoys going to the gym and playing/listening to music. She plays the trumpet in a brass band.

Joanne, and the other queens, will enjoy an experience like no other, including a fun team-building exercise, meeting their local host families, music and dancing events, private interviews with the adjudicators, an on-stage interview in St. James' Hall with former 2 Johnnies co-host Maura Fay, and a parade through Athboy ahead of the Fone Geek Lark in the Park, ending with a gala banquet.

The entire weekend is mostly about having a bit of craic, but there are prizes to be won as well. The 2026 Blue Jean Country Queen will receive a tiara, golden sash and perpetual cup, as well as receiving €1,000 from Le Chéile Credit Union.

Tickets for the 2026 Blue Jean Country Queen Festival and further information can be found at bluejeancountryqueen.com or on social media by following the Blue Jean Country Queen Festival on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.