Miss Ireland 2022: Get to know the 36 finalists

Miss Ireland 2022, the 75th anniversary of the Miss Ireland pageant, will take place this Saturday, August 20 at the Royal Theatre Castlebar, Co. Mayo.

Thirty-six finalists from across Ireland will compete for the national title and the opportunity to represent the country at the 71st Miss World pageant.

Last year's winner Pamela Uba, the first-ever black woman to be crowned Miss Ireland, will pass her crown on to her successor at the end of the event, which promises a fantastic lineup of entertainment.

Here are the 36 finalists vying for this year's title:

Miss Carlow - Emmanuella "Ella" Ambrose, 19, is originally from Passage West Cork but currently residing in Youghal with her mother. The IT management student at SETU Carlow is a qualified nail technician and enjoys going to the gym in her free time.

Miss Clare - Derinn Finnerty, 20, from Ennis County Clare just finished her second year of studying global commerce at NUIG and is passionate about helping others and enjoys her role as an advocate for students, as she is the class representative for her course. She was diagnosed with severe scoliosis at 16 and is currently recovering from her third spinal fusion surgery to fix her spine. Working with Straight Ahead Ireland as part of her beauty with a purpose project to help raise funds for children with scoliosis, she hopes to be a role model for young people as she shows that when faced with adversity a positive attitude, determination and self-belief will help you achieve your goals in life.

Miss Cork - Saoirse O’Shaughnessy is a 22-year-old qualified personal trainer and a full-time care assistant living in Coachford, Co. Cork. She has plans on becoming a critical care paramedic in the future with a passion for healthcare and medicine. She enjoys spending time with her friends and family, volunteering in local first aid organizations, and working out in the gym. Her goal for the year is to promote the importance of knowing first aid and CPR and educate as many people as possible on it to potentially help save so many lives.

Miss Cork City - Eve Mullins is 21 years old and is living in a small village in Cork called Whitechurch. She is currently studying early years and childhood studies at University College Cork and hopes to pursue a career in special needs teaching, and complete a Ph.D. in autism studies. For many years, she has played inter-county football with Cork and has also competed in numerous World Irish Dance Championships. Eve is a happy and outgoing girl who enjoys traveling in her spare time.

Miss Cork East - Chloe McCarthy is living in Passage West, Cork and currently studying early years and childhood studies at University College Cork. The 20-year-old wishes to pursue a career in occupational therapy. An extremely smiley and outgoing girl, who loves painting and playing sports, she entered Miss Ireland to raise awareness and raise funds for ME, a neurological disease that she was diagnosed with nearly four years ago, because she wants to spread awareness for invisible illnesses and show everyone that just because someone looks okay on the outside does not mean you know their story.

Miss Cork North - Sofia Labus is living near Cork City, in a place called Ballyvolane. The 19-year-old just finished her leaving cert and plans to go to university in the following year to study criminology at UCC. She enjoys spending time with friends and family in her free time as well as traveling and doing nails.

Miss Cork People’s Choice - Meg O’Mahony, is 21 years old and lives in Greenmount, Cork City. She is currently starting studies in business information systems at MTU and has completed a degree in art and design.

Miss Cork South East - Carol Ryan, 25, is from Blackrock, in the south-east of Cork City, and is a business support manager that specializes in Cybersecurity. She graduated from Munster Technological University with a bachelor’s degree in business, business management, and entrepreneurship. In her spare time, she enjoys taking part in Camogie and Gaelic Football with her local GAA club, Blackrock. She has represented Cork at the intercounty camogie level, has won various Cork and Munster Championship titles in Irish dancing, and has modeled for British Fashion Consultant, Gok Wan. In addition, she has modeled for various Irish clothing brands, appearing on RTE and Ireland AM. Carol considers herself to be kind, compassionate, empathetic, hardworking, and an advocate for children's mental health.

Miss Dublin - Katie O’Connor, 19, from Dublin is working as a makeup artist in a salon, a model, and a ballroom and Latin dancer in "exquisite dance." An Irish champion in dance, she has traveled the world, been invited, and danced in multiple world championships to represent her country. In addition, she is volunteer support for Straight Ahead Ireland which works with helping scoliosis patients like herself.

Miss Dublin Central - Jasmine Gerhardt is a 24-year-old law graduate and a master's student in human rights from Dublin Clonee. Her hobbies include board diving and music. She has been playing the piano and singing since the age of 5 and considers it one of her biggest passions.

Miss Dublin City - Carine Tiesoh, commonly known as Cece from Blanchardstown, Dublin was born in 1997 making her one of the first elite Gen Zs. She studied dental nursing at Trinity College and is currently working as a nurse and model. Cece is fiery, fierce and like most people would say, she's got a heart of gold. Her motto in life is "God only gives you what you can handle."

Miss Dublin South - Kate Coffey, 23, from Ballsbridge, Dublin is a graduate of economics and politics degree from UCD. With a strong ambition to work in the business world, she is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Smurfit Business School, UCD, specializing in marketing & retail innovation. Her flare for fashion and style along with maintaining a positive and healthy lifestyle has carved her a career in social media influencing and modeling.

Miss Dublin West - Britney Madondo, 19, is a film and broadcasting student and a content producer who is an immensely positive-minded and forward-thinking young woman. She loves the outdoor life, nature, and community-based initiatives that promote the needs and priorities of disadvantaged people, and has done work with families of people in long-term imprisonment. In addition, she has traveled extensively to promote fashion, beauty, and positive role modeling for young people. To "leave the world a better place than we found it" is her motto as a firm believer in purposeful living.

Miss Galway - Ava Mathews, 21, from Loughrea County Galway is currently studying for a bachelor of science degree at NUI Galway majoring in physiology. She is also a model with Catwalk Modelling agency, a medical research intern, and has played Volleyball for Ireland for many years.

Miss Kerry - Kasey McCormack is an 18-year-old resident of Tralee Co. Kerry who has recently just completed her leaving cert and hopes to pursue a career in nursing studies with a view to specializing in eating disorders. Her hobbies include show jumping and she loves going to the gym. She is very passionate about mental health issues and advocates highlighting the individualized care requirements for the same.

Miss Kildare - Ciara Smith, 19, from Clane County Kildare, will be going into the second year of her 4-year performance degree in TU Dublin’s Conservatory of Music in September where she studies vocal performance. She wishes to complete a master's of the same trade abroad after completing the degree and would love to pursue a career in performance and eventually teaching.

Miss Kilkenny - Shreya Ambade, 19, from Kilkenny City is currently studying biomedical science at University College Dublin. She has a passion for music and loves creating and releasing her own songs and hopes to pursue a career in the creative field.

Miss Laois - Sarah Corbet, 20, from a small village in county Laois called Clonaslee, is studying law and human rights at NUI Galway and hopes to one day work for the UN as this is an area she is passionate about. She enjoys playing football and basketball and has represented her country internationally in basketball.

Miss Leitrim - Rachel Foley, 22, is a receptionist and model living in Kinlough Co. Leitrim. She is a fully qualified health and safety officer but would like to pursue her modeling career. Her interests include motor trade with cars and drifting.

Miss Limerick - Emily Maunsell, a 21-year-old international business student at the University of Limerick, has lived in Limerick for the last few years but is originally from Clonmel, Tipperary. She is passionate about traveling, working out, journaling, and meditating which she claims have all contributed to her having a positive outlook on life.

Miss Louth - Maiya McMonagle is 19 years of age and currently living in Drogheda representing Louth. She graduated from Drogheda Institute of Further Education where she studied animal care and will go on to study integrated master's in zoology at Bangor University. In addition to working as an accountant for a property consultant, she has her own sustainable fashion brand which she created at the age of 10 to promote environmental and economic issues.

Miss Mayo - Lauren Forkan is 22 years old from Castlebar County Mayo and enjoys working full time in Harvey Norman. 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. In addition, she has a musical side to her and she is very passionate about music and loves to sing whenever she gets the chance. She has been given lead roles in musicals and has done choirs when she was young.

Miss Meath - Aíne Duff hails from County Meath and works remotely as an account associate for a global employer of records company. The 25-year-old graduated from University College Dublin with a degree in modern languages, Spanish and Italian, and has also completed styling and personal shopping courses at the Dublin Institute of Design due to her passion for fashion. She combines her work with her love for fashion - who knows where this will bring her - a career in the fashion industry!

Miss Monaghan - Rachel Martin, 26, from Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan currently lives in Dundalk and works as a business development executive. She graduated from DKIT with a degree in digital and international business and enjoys meditating and mindfulness which is an area she would like to pursue.

Miss Munster - Ivanna McMahon is a 27-year-old from Barefield, Ennis, Co. Clare who studied medicine at University College Cork, graduating in 2020, and is currently working in Tralee, Co Kerry. She is a musician, enjoys the gym, walks on the beach, and loves to travel.

Miss Munster People’s Choice - Orla Winston is 20 years old from Kilsheelan, Clonmel, Co Tipperary, and a student at UCC, studying commerce. She loves football and has played with her school club and county, and has now decided to embrace the glamorous side of herself by competing in Miss Ireland.

Miss Navan - Anna Clarke, a 24-year-old BSc in Sports and Exercise Management graduate, was born in China and adopted into an Irish family from the age of 1. She is currently living in Navan, Co. Meath, and working as an in-person PT and online fitness coach. Anna is enthusiastic about helping ambitious, career-driven women, step into their unstoppable confidence both in and out of the gym and she hopes to pursue her passion even further in the future.

Miss Roscommon - Rachel Doran, 22 is originally from Roscommon Town and is a social media content creator. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business events and public relations from AT.

Miss Sligo - Chloe May Clarke is 19 years old from Ballisodare and currently studying secondary school teaching at Dublin City University. She is a fluent Irish speaker and a competitive dancer mainly focusing on lyrical, ballet, and jazz.

Miss Tipperary- Megan Kelly is a 19-year-old who grew up and currently living in Borrisoleigh, County Tipperary. She has just finished her first year studying business with event management and plans to dedicate this year to pursue her interests in being more involved in her community and being a strong advocate for their issues. Megan is an avid reader, who enjoys learning about history and exploring the beautiful countryside of Ireland.

Miss Tipperary South - Kerri Doyle, an 18-year-old makeup artist from the small town of Killenaule, County Tipperary, is currently working in The Makeup Studio, Clonmel and is hoping to go on to study and further her career in aesthetics. She enjoys singing, music, and playing for her GAA club Fethard and county.

Miss Waterford - Tara Dornbusch, 23, is a dual citizen of Ireland and New Zealand with her mother’s family originally from Rathgormack, Co. Waterford. At a young age, she moved to New Zealand with her family where she completed her primary and secondary schooling. In early 2019, she took a leap to move back to Ireland independently to complete her tertiary studies and is currently living in Waterford City. Tara has now recently completed her veterinary nursing course within Cork College of FET Douglas Street Campus and is in the process of registering with the Veterinary Council of Ireland. Animal health and welfare is vitally important for her and something she strives to promote throughout her vocation as a registered veterinary nurse.

Miss Waterford City - Heather Murray is 23 years of age from Waterford City and would say she is a fun, positive young woman always aiming to see the good things in life. She is studying beauty this year at Kilkenny College of Beauty and Sports Therapy and feels her best when helping others feel the most confident and happiest version of themselves.

Miss Wexford - Cassie Gaynor is 21 years of age originally from Castlebridge which is a small village just outside Wexford town. She has just finished her level 8 degree in social science and will be graduating later this year. In addition, she is currently working in a candy boutique. For her charity, Cassie chose Wexford People Helping People as it is very close to her heart and she will continue to advocate for them throughout this competition.

Miss Wicklow Town - Erika Bellamy is a 21 year old student from Kilcoole in Co. Wicklow who currently studying business in DCU and is on her third-year placement working in vehicle finance. She enjoys playing camogie and hopes to build a career in management once she leaves college.

Miss Wicklow - Tanya Flood is 24 years old from Druids Glen in Co. and currently working as a research and development scientist. She graduated from Dublin City University with a degree in chemical and pharmaceutical science, and is very passionate about health and fitness and has a huge interest in beauty and fashion.

Photos: Evan Doherty / Miss Ireland