Miss Ireland stripped of title for being outside the age limit

The dethroned Maire Hughes (center) has been replaced by her first runner-up Rebecca Maguire (left).
Photo credit: CozyCot.com

     Galway girl Maire Hughes has been stripped of the Miss Ireland title, just days after winning the crown.
The local model was representing Mayo when she beat off stiff competition from 35 competitors to claim the title on Saturday night. However, Miss Ireland organisers confirmed today that Ms. Hughes will be outside the age limit by the time the Miss World competition takes place in August and as a result, the title has now been given to first runner-up Miss Wright Venue Rebecca Maguire.

     Catwalk Modelling Agency, who represent Maire, have also released a statement saying that they acted "in good faith" in entering the Galway model in the competition and were "very disappointed with the way that matters unfolded".

     Born in Canada, Maire grew up in Knocknacarra and attended Taylor’s Hill Secondary School before studying for a degree in Science at NUI Galway. Maire, who also works at the Born store in Newtownsmith, lives in Athenry with her boyfriend Stephen O Connor.

SOURCE: Galway Independent, 5/1/2012

Photos of the new Miss Ireland Rebecca Maguire: