Last weekend, the 37 finalists vying for the coveted Miss Ireland title put their collective strength and unity together to co-ordinate a big beach clean-up all over Ireland.

And 21-year-old Miss Galway Ava Mathews put her energies into a home town project as she gathered her friends and family to do a clean-up at Loughrea Lake.

The big clean-up is one of the challenges that finalists of Miss Ireland 2022 are being tasked with in a challenging competitive process for this, the 75th Diamond Jubilee of the competition.

Their skills are also tested in debating, public speaking, talent, sports, modelling, social media and each finalist is tasked with raising much-needed awareness and funds for their chosen charities.

The most spectacular ever Diamond Jubilee Miss Ireland Final takes place this weekend at the Royal Theatre Castlebar with 1,500 people expected to attend.

Established in 1947, Miss Ireland has been the launch pad for many eminent, successful, and inspiring women in Ireland.

In recent years the Miss Ireland Franchise has raised over €300,000 for various charities including Laura Lynn, Temple Street, Alzheimer’s Ireland, Pieta House, The Cari Foundation and this year are proud to partner, once again, with Variety Ireland, an Irish charity helping sick, disadvantaged and children with special needs since 1951.

The winner of Miss Ireland 2022 – who will succeed last year’s Miss Galway Pamela Uba – will receive a lucrative agency contract and a host of prizes including jewellery, gowns, professional photo shoots, beauty and hair products and then jet off to represent her country at the Miss World Festival which is televised in over 100 countries around the world.

The winner will also enjoy an all-expenses paid trip to the Maldives to do a photoshoot later in the autumn.