CONTEST FOR IRISH

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31071, 28 May 1966, Page 18

CONTEST FOR IRISH

Christchurch Girl Wins

Miss Margaret O'Malley, aged 20, of Christchurch, won the South Island final of the Rose of Tralee contest at a ball at the Winter Garden last evening. Miss O'Malley is a travel Clerk at the Government Tourist Bureau and is a part-time university student.

The contest, which attracted 10 entries, was organised by the Combined Irish Societies and was the first of its kind to be held in New Zealand.

Miss O’Malley will compete in the national final to be held at Auckland on June 9. The Wellington final will be judged on June 4 and the Auckland winner will be named on June 9, the night of the national competition. The New Zealand winner will leave for Ireland, with 75 members of the society on their annual charter flight, on July 13. Her itinerary will include an audience with Pope Paul at Rome, a seven-week tour of Ireland, Britain, and the Continent, as well as taking part in the international Rose of Tralee contest at County Kerry on August 27. She will make appearances on radio and television in Ireland.

The judging panel was Mr R. H. Martin. Mr P. Huxted, and Miss A. T. Sprott. To help defrey expenses, a leprechaun model was sold at auction by Mr J. Doyle, of Christchurch, and it realised £5B. The organisers hope the Rose of Tralee contest will become an annual event.