Mary from Dungloe

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: {| class="wikitable" ! Event !! Traditional Location |- | Opening Ceremony || Main St. |- | Introduction of MFD Contestants || Main St. |- | Country Sunday || Main St. |- | Lá Gaelach || Main St. |- | Open Air Music || Main St. |- | Art Exhibition || Sharkey's Service Station / Ionad Teampaill Chróine |- | McGurk's Fun Fair || The Cope Car Park, Quay Road |- | Childrens Sports Day || CLG An Clochán Liath/Dungloe GAA Grounds |- | Men's Golf Open || Cruit Island Golf Club |- | Ladies Golf Open || Cruit Island Golf Club |- | Treasure Hunt || Main St. starting point |- | Annual 5K Road Race || Main St. & surrounds |- | Fly Fishing Competition || Dungloe Marina |- | Little Miss Mary Competition || Parochial Hall/ CDP na Rosann |- | Table Quiz || Maghery Community Centre/ Midway Bar & Restaurant |- | Junior Table Quiz || Ionad Teampall Cróine |- | Social Evening with the Marys || Various | Historic Tour of the Rosses || Departs Main St.