It's time to meet the Marys!

EDINBURGH MARY—CARA MOLLOY

THIS year’s Edinburgh Mary is Cara Molloy, originally from West Belfast, but now living and studying in Scotland’s capital city. Cara was recently crowned by the Edinburgh Emerald Irish Social Group at Gilmerton Miner’s Club (above).

Describing herself as a ‘family and community-oriented person, with a strong moral compass’ instilled by her parents and step-parents, she spoke of her love for her three younger siblings having inspired her to act as a role model for them as they grow up—especially for her two little sisters.

“It’s very important to me to show them they can be anything they want to with enough ambition, grit, and kindness,” she said.

From an early age Cara showed a particular aptitude for the arts and music, attending St John the Baptist Primary School and moving on to her mum’s alma mater—St Dominic’s Grammar School for Girls in West Belfast—where she was able to develop a wide range of subjects, eventually winning the O’Neill Cup for Academic Excellence last year. Despite going to an English-speaking primary school, she took up Irish in first year and with the help of the fabulous Irish department, worked her way up to an A* at A Level.

“This made me the first fluent Irish speaker in my family, winning the Gormley Cup for dedication to the language,” she said. “I passed my passion for the Irish language onto my sisters, teaching them phrases at home whenever I could.”

She also maintained her passion for the arts, especially portrait painting and theatre with the help of her ‘amazing teachers,’ winning the Frame of Mine Gallery Award and performing in school musicals. This led her to take up musical theatre outside of the classroom with esteemed companies like the Avenue Arts Academy and Fusion Theatre, where her passion for theatre and costume design blossomed further, taking the lead with costume organisation and period-accurate hair and makeup.

“My productions have won several NODA Awards, for Evita, Anastasia, Titanic the Musical and Sweeney Todd, all of which I adored performing alongside amazing casts and crews, who became like family,” Cara enthused. “This is where I realised that I want to become a professional costume designer for stage and screen. My involvement and passion for the arts and the support I received from school and youth companies has shaped who I am today.”

Last year, Cara made the massive step of moving to Edinburgh to pursue her degree in Performance Costume at Edinburgh College of Art. She completely fell in love with the beautiful architecture, artistic community and the hustle and bustle of the city.

“Moving here has inspired so much of my art, through visiting well known landmarks like Arthur’s Seat, Dean Village and the National Museum, as well as hidden treasures like the Captain’s Folk Bar, where I sing some traditional Irish songs to remind me of home,” she said. “My involvement in the University of Edinburgh’s Irish Society has definitely strengthened my Edinburgh-Ireland links, with my role this year as First Year Rep and next year as the Cultural Officer, where I’ll collaborate with other Celtic societies for ceilidhs, traditional music sessions and other exciting events. The Irish Society and more recently my sponsor, Edinburgh Emerald Irish Social Group, showcase the vibrant Irish diaspora in Edinburgh, allowing me to stay in touch with my identity, language and culture. I’m so proud to be representing this amazing city and the Irish community here.

“Donegal and Dungloe specifically are familiar to me as well, after spending several summers as a student in the Gaeltacht, in Loch an Iuir, where I made lifelong friends and enriched my language. I’m so excited to go back and represent my university city, showcase my personality, style and talents and, of course, spend the week with the other Marys. I hope to make beautiful Edinburgh proud!”

Follow Cara’s journey on Instagram: @edinburghmary26

GLASGOW MARY—MARIA NEELY

AS WE approach the 59th Mary from Dungloe International Arts Festival, in which we will come together to celebrate one of Ireland’s most cherished and enduring cultural events. Since its beginning in 1967, the festival has stood as a vibrant tribute to Irish heritage, music and community spirit. Each year, the global Irish diaspora returns to Dungloe, reconnecting with home, tradition, and one another through the unique magic the festival holds.

At the heart of the celebration is the selection of a young woman who embodies the values of the festival—warmth, resilience, cultural pride, and community leadership. She will become an ambassador for Dungloe and for Irish culture worldwide,

carrying forward the prestigious title of Mary from Dungloe 2026.

We, as the Glasgow MFD Committee, are hugely excited and full of anticipation when we imagine just what is ahead, for Maria Neely this year’s Glasgow Mary. Maria, along with the other Marys from around the globe who will all descend upon Dungloe to participate in an experience that will live in their hearts forever. These young women, from all walks of life will grace the hills of Donegal with integrity, wisdom and wit, as their formidable personalities carry them through a week of culture, excitement, history and craic, in an experience that will undoubtedly shape them forever, This experience will see them make new lifelong friends and build upon their abilities to be the best versions of themselves, whilst making magical memories.

As a city, we are immensely proud to have been part of the Mary from Dungloe family for many years. We have had the honour of being represented in Dungloe every year throughout the festival’s history—a distinction shared only with Dungloe, New York, and Donegal. This enduring connection reflects Glasgow’s close bond with Donegal, forged when many emigrants left their native Donegal in search of employment, adventure, and prosperity. The Mary from Dungloe Festival has long been a homecoming and a gathering of Irish hearts who have settled around the world over the past 59 years will live in their hearts forever.

The week will see them forge lifelong friendships, grow in confidence, and build on their abilities to become the best versions of themselves while making magical memories that will shape them for years to come.

Representing Glasgow at the 59th Mary from Dungloe Festival is Maria Neely, a 22-year-old third year Primary Teaching student at the University of Glasgow. Maria’s ambition is to become a teacher who encourages curiosity, confidence, and kindness in young learners. Alongside her studies she works as a Bridal Consultant at Wed2B, where she enjoys guiding brides through one of the most memorable decisions of their lives.

Irish culture and tradition are central to Maria’s identity. She has a long history of Irish dancing, and family connections in Gweedore and Curransport, Donegal, remain a cherished part of her life. Maria values time spent with family and friends and savours every opportunity to return to Donegal.

As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a Mary. Our committee has been generously supported over the years by Glasgow’s Irish community. We are honoured to hold our selection at Grace’s Irish Centre in the heart of the city, with the Kelly family ensuring an evening that reflects true Irish warmth and hospitality. We were delighted to have on our judging panel Anna Gallacher, Mayor of Donegal Town, along with Alisha Medford, our 50th MFD with Christiana Kelly, Director of Grace’s Irish Bar. Both Alisha and Christiana also made significant contributions to our festival as they have both given birth to future Marys, Clodagh Niamh Kelly and Lily Janey Shannon, who will no doubt wear the sash in years to come.

Each year we receive ongoing support from the many Irish bars across the city, including Sharkey’s, The Brazen Head, and Sweeney’s on the Park. Without these supporters, Glasgow would not be in such a favourable position to participate annually.

The hands of friendship are extended to our Mary every year through warm invitations to attend Celtic Park and to join legendary singers such as Daniel O’Donnell, Foster and Allen, Lisa McHugh, and many more on stage. Our Mary also attends sporting events and Irish dancing feiseanna to share her experience and promote the festival.

We were honoured to take part in Glasgow’s St Patrick’s Day Parade for the second year, a celebration of Irish culture that saw us marching proudly alongside Irish and Scottish dignitaries and community members. The parade concluded with our arrival at Glasgow’s St Patrick’s Day Festival, where we enjoyed a day of celebrations in honour of our patron saint.

We are delighted to be sponsored this year by MacSorley’s (above), the multiple award winning city centre bar. Its proud owner, Mary Doherty from Creeslough, together with her son Brandon, have brought huge recognition to this Glasgow landmark, which now boasts honours such as the Best Small Live Music Venue, Best Bar None Gold Awards—five years running—and the proud winner of The Sunday Mail Scottish Pub of the Year.

We are sure you will agree that Maria looks ready to make the most of this experience. Our sincere thanks go to Grant Parfery Photography, who, each year, generously gives his time and skill to ensure our Mary is picture perfect.

CONNACHT MARY—KATIE McCLAFFERTY

KATIE McClafferty is proud to represent her new home of Mayo and the Connacht region at this year’s Mary from Dungloe Festival—a festival that has held a special place in her heart since childhood.

Born and raised in Glasgow, Katie, 28, moved to Mayo in December 2023 and has quickly embraced life in the West of Ireland. In October 2025, she opened her own business, Nails by Katie, in Crossmolina, Mayo. Katie graduated from the University of Glasgow in 2019 earning a BSc in Human Biology.

Irish culture and tradition have always been at the centre of Katie’s life. An Irish dancer since the age of five with the Caroline Greene School of Irish Dancing in Glasgow, she competed at all major championships including the All-Scotlands, All-Irelands, Great Britains and World Championships until the age of 21. One of her proudest achievements came when her Senior Ladies Ceili team won the World Championships in both 2016 and 2017.

Her love of Irish dance then brought her around the globe professionally, touring for five years with productions including Rhythm of the Dance, Lord of the Dance, Irish Celtic and Murphy’s Celtic Legacy. Through dance, Katie travelled extensively across the UK, Ireland, Europe, America, China, Taiwan and Central Asia.

It was while touring with Rhythm of the Dance that Katie met her boyfriend, a musician from Lahardane in Mayo—a connection that eventually brought her to the West of Ireland permanently. Now settled in Mayo, Katie is also working towards her TCRG exam with hopes of opening her own Irish dancing school in the near future.

Katie’s connection to the Mary from Dungloe Festival runs much deeper than simply taking part this year. Katie’s grandparents come from Donegal, with family roots in Mullaghderg and Creeslough. Her granda, Tony-Mai Gallagher from Mullaghderg, famously drove the buses carrying families from Glasgow back to Donegal every summer.

“Growing up, going to Dungloe for the festival on my granda’s bus with my mum, aunties, uncles and cousins was always the highlight of the year,” Katie said. “Some of my happiest childhood memories were made there.”

For Katie, the festival represents far more than a celebration, it symbolises the enduring connection between Ireland and Scotland and the strength of the Irish diaspora abroad.

“There has always been such a strong link between Scotland and Ireland, especially in Glasgow where Irish culture is such a huge part of life for so many families,” she said. “I grew up deeply connected to my Irish roots through dancing, music and family traditions, but now living in Mayo, I feel connected to both places in an even more meaningful way’’

Katie believes the festival continues to hold huge importance for Irish communities across the world, bringing people together through heritage, music, dance and shared traditions.

“The Mary from Dungloe Festival is such a beautiful celebration of Irish culture and identity,” she said. “Families travel from all over the world every year to reconnect with their roots and celebrate where they come from. To now be part of that as Connacht Mary is incredibly special. I’m so proud to represent my new home in Mayo and the wider Connacht region at a festival that has always been so close to my heart.”

Katie’s official sponsors for this year’s festival are Gracie’s Bar in Sligo and Leitrim, and she also expressed gratitude to all of the local Connacht sponsors who have supported her so far on her journey.

Earlier this year, Katie proudly helped promote the festival while taking part in both the Westport and Glasgow St Patrick’s Day parade alongside Glasgow Mary, Maria Neely—another reflection of the unique and lasting bond between Ireland and Scotland that she is proud to represent.