BALLINAGORE Macra man Kevin Glennon is to represent Westmeath in 12th Annual “Mr. Personality” Festival.
Ballinagore has been improving Westmeath’s image on the national scene of late, with Karen Elliffe the winner of the Queen of the Land competition, featured on the RTE TV show just two weeks ago.
Now talented young 22-year-old from Ballinagore, Kevin will represent Westmeath at the 12th Annual Mr. Personality Festival, which is being organised by Kilkenny Macra na Feirme.
The event is due to take place from the 7 to 9 April in the Springhill Court Hotel, Kilkenny.
Kevin is currently attending Templemore Garda Síochána College and is currently 16 weeks into his training but will continue to help his father on the farm. “I do a bit of farming. I thought it would be a good idea to get a job. It’s very hard to make a bit of money out of farming at the moment so I’ll keep the farm going part-time. As one lad said to me I’ll be a full-time farmer, part-time Garda.”
Kevin believes he will make a good representative for Westmeath because he is enthusiastic, energetic and willing to try his hand at anything..
Kevin has been a member of the Ballinagore Macra na Feirme- an Irish, voluntary, rural youth organisation for the past two years- and has a range of hobbies and interests from music to sports. As well as playing football with Coralstown Kinnegad, hockey with Mullingar hocky club and and is involved in athletics with Mullingar Atheletic Club.
He said he decided to join Macra after hearing good things about the organsiation. “My father was a member. For a rural youth it is a great place to socialise and go to events.”
Kevin is also very musical and plays the banjo, violin, viola and piano. He picked up the the piano at about five and progressed to playing viola in the Midlands Youth Orchestra as well as the banjo.
The down-to-earth trainee Garda said he decided to take part in the competition because he thought it would be a bit of fun.
“There was a fundraising quiz in Mahon’s pub for the club and then there was the county round for the Mr. Personality,
The Queen of the Land and the Blue Jeans competition as well. We had to get up on a stage and were asked a few questions.
They just ask you about your background and why you wanted to be “Mr. Personality” I was down at the competition there supporting a lad last year and it looked like great craic so I said I’d throw my name down,” he told Topic.
Contestants will arrive at the Springhill Court Hotel at 7 pm with the on-Stage Interviews starting at 9pm with former Macra President Matt O’Keeffe will be conducting the interviews.
Kevin will have an early start on Saturday morning as contestant challenges will take place at 9:30 am. Following the activity each contestant will be interviewed by the judges. Then on Saturday evening after photocall with the Sponsors, the Informal Banquet will take place starting at 7:45pm. The Mr. Personality” 2017 will be announced at about 12 midnight.
A SELLOUT
Tickets for the banquet are already sold out but tickets are still available for the Restaurant and can be booked by contacting Kerry in the Springhill Court Hotel on 056 7721122.
This year, the hotel are again offering Macra members an exclusive offer whereby a weekend afters ticket can be purchased for €20.
