Festival History

We will be putting up a selection of information and pictures from the festival’s history during July. Please feel free to send in your own photos or anecdotes of years gone by.

Lady of the Erne History

The Lady of the Erne started back in 1991. It was originally going to be titled the ‘Queen of the Erne’ featuring contestants from Cavan, Fermanagh and Donegal, simply following the course of the River Erne. However it was decided the ‘Lady of the Erne’ would be more appealing.

The first year it ran, 14 young ladies from these 3 counties competed for the title, including one lovely lady from Canada. From these humble beginnings the contest now 16 years later encompasses 18 counties from all corners of the country from Antrim to Kerry. This expansion of the competition could not have been possible with out the continued support from our sponsors Quinn Direct and formally Irish Distillers (for 12 years).

This was the first contest of its kind to enhance cross-border relationships with the key emphasis on the ‘New’ lady of the Erne as all the girls who enter are winners!!

Lady’s of the Erne down through the years:

1991 Rachel Drumm   Belturbet

1992 Sheena Farrell   Donegal

1993 Aileen Peake   Fermanagh

1994 Amanda Morgan   Armagh

1995 Edel Fitzpatrick    London

1996 Rosaleen French   Donegal

1997 Elaine McAlarsney   Cavan

1998 Gemma Cullen   Kilkenny

1999 Brigeen Carr   Donegal

2000 Denise Brennan   Wicklow

2001 Teresa Lyons   Tyrone

2002 Audrey Walker   Wicklow

2003 Donna Ferguson   Fermanagh

2004 Fionnula Armstrong   Antrim

2005 Fiona Gallagher   Donegal

2006 Karina Charles  Belturbet Co Cavan