During the final gala held last night at Ballsbridge Hotel in Dublin , the reigning Miss Buck Whaleys - Jessica Heyes was crowned the winner of the country's national beauty pageant. Jessica, the Miss Ireland 2014, will now represent Ireland at the Miss World 2014 pageant to be held this December in London.
Miss Ireland 2013, stunning redhead Aoife Walsh, handed over the coveted emerald crown and said the new winner was guaranteed a year she would never forget.
This 20 year old beauty from Cork defeated 35 other contestants to win the title. Jessica is currently pursuing her education in business studies. She told reporters it was a night she would never forget. She said after winning the crown “I am just so shocked. I am just so, so happy. I entered last year and thought I would not be as nervous this time but I was ten times worse. I hoped for the best and to get in the top eight was absolutely fantastic but when they announced I had won I just could not believe it".
Shannon Howe (Miss Dublin Central) was adjudged the first runner-up, and Fionnuala Short (Miss Louth) was adjudged the second runner-up at the final event.
The panel of judges for the Miss Ireland 2014 competition included former Miss Ireland winners Olivia Tracey and Sarah Morrissey, TV3 Xposé presenter Aisling O’Loughlin, Miss World representative Krishna Naidoo and Dublin Housewives star Roz Flanagan.