Mary from Dungloe (festival) facts for kids

A typical scene at the Mary From Dungloe Festival, 2005.

The Mary From Dungloe International Festival is a fun Irish music festival. It happens every year, usually at the end of July. The festival takes place in the small town of Dungloe, in County Donegal, Ireland.

The main part of the festival is a special contest. Young women from different places compete to show they have the true spirit of the festival. The winner is then crowned "Mary From Dungloe." This person holds the title for one year. She becomes an ambassador for the festival, helping to represent it.

Communities with Irish connections from all over the world take part. Some Irish counties and towns also join in. They choose a young woman, often called a "Mary," to represent their area. The festival has become very popular. Tens of thousands of visitors come to Dungloe each year. The festival gets its name from a famous song called "Mary from Dungloe." This is similar to how the Rose of Tralee festival is inspired by "The Rose of Tralee" song. In 2019, the festival celebrated its 52nd birthday. Roisin Maher from New York was crowned Mary From Dungloe that year.

Communities That Participate

Many communities around the world have strong links to County Donegal. These communities hold their own local contests. They pick their own "Mary" to send to Dungloe. This "Mary" then competes in the main Mary From Dungloe contest. Here are some of the places that have sent contestants:

Fun Festival Events

The Mary From Dungloe Festival has many traditional events. These events happen every year. Here are some examples of the exciting things to do:

This list of songs or music-related items is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

The 2025 Contestants

The young women who competed for the "Mary" title in 2025 were:

• Ellen Luff – Birmingham
• Caragh Ryan – Connacht
• Alana O’Leary – Donegal
• Anna Sutcliffe – Dublin
• Ellie Ward – Dungloe
• Maria O'Donnell – Edinburgh
• Niamh Ní Bhaoill – Gaeltacht
• Niamh Brown – Glasgow
• Kate Tobin – London
• Taragh Brady – Midlands
• Tara Molloy – New York
• Olivia Boyce – Philadelphia
• Ciara Hassan – Ulster
• Sarah Hughes – United Arab Emirates
• Lucy Baskin – Wild Atlantic Way

Ellie Ward, who represented Dungloe, was crowned the 2025 Mary from Dungloe on August 3, 2025.

Past Contest Winners

Here is a list of all the winners of the Mary From Dungloe contest. It shows who won each year from 1968 to 2025.

Famous Performers and Hosts

Many well-known Irish and international artists have performed at the festival. A big draw for the crowds is often the famous folk singer Daniel O'Donnell. He first performed at the festival in 1985.

Other popular performers have included:

• Daniel O'Donnell, Boyzone, Brian Kennedy, Donal Lunny, Altan, The Hothouse Flowers, Goats Don't Shave, Nathan Carter, Christy Moore, The Sawdoctors, Paul Brady, Shane McGowan.
• Barry Sinclair, Jimmy Buckley, Hugo Duncan, Mad Dog Macrea, Louise DaCosta, Riverdance, Jake Carter and many more.

The final contest for Mary From Dungloe has also been hosted by many famous TV presenters. Some of these well-known hosts include:

• Gay Byrne
• Daniel O'Donnell
• Marty Whelan
• Pat Kenny
• Thelma Mansfield
• Gerry Kelly
• Noel Cunningham
• Dave O'Connor