THE current Miss Limerick has pulled out of the Miss Ireland final in protest against a rule that bans mothers from taking part in the competition.
And she will be joined on the sidelines by Miss Limerick Director Patrick McLoughney who resigned after refusing an instruction from the national organisers to strip 19-year-old Newcastle West woman Kyla McGowan of her crown.
“I told Kyla I would always have her back and I’m a man of my word,” he explained.
On her instagram account, law student Kyla wrote in support of Miss Dublin, Blue Scannell, who pulled out of the competition because of the rule.
Kyla wrote, “women have been silenced for too long …..I do not want want to be part of a competition which discriminates against some women or forces them to leave should they raise a valid question about a rule.”
Kyle said she originally intended to fulfil her engagements as Miss Limerick but not to take part in the final competition. On hearing that the organisers want to strip her of her title, she said she would hand it back.
Her exit was followed by both runners up in the Limerick heats, Aisling Kelly and Kristine Danka as well as Miss Clare, Rebecca O’Neil and a list of other finalists.
The Miss Ireland organisers responded to Kyla’s tweet by stating: “we are a little surprised that it has taken you months to raise your concerns and issues with this rule.”
