Quantity Surveyor Dearbhla swapping hard hats for heels in Miss Universe Final

An ambitious Donegal woman has set out to inspire women in construction as she competes in this year’s Miss Universe Ireland competition.

Dearbhla Walsh from Kerrykeel is a Top 30 finalist in Miss Universe Ireland 2019. An experienced pageant titleholder, she will be hoping to do Donegal proud once more as she takes to the stage of The Round Room in Dublin’s Mansion House on Thursday night.

All eyes will be on Facebook Live on August 1st to find out who will win reigning queen Grainne Gallanagh’s crown. The Buncrana woman placed in the Top 20 of the 2018 world final in Thailand last December.

But there has to be a new queen, and Dearbhla is hoping to be that new role model.

The 26-year-old has a strong message to share about her career. With a BSc Hons degree in Quantity Surveying, Dearbhla shows that you can be a ‘girly girl’ and succeed in the male-dominated construction industry.

She has set out to encourage more women to enter the industry. “Many females are put off thinking it’s manual labour, but that’s not the case. I feel it’s time for a change,” Dearbhla told Donegal Woman.

Dearbhla has been working in London for the past two years and is currently studying for her chartership. With blonde hair and blue eyes, she describes herself as ‘like legally blonde, but more like construction blonde!’

She said: “For me, I am feminine and a girly girl. But there’s no heavy lifting or physical work. I’m a professional, I’m in my office, I’m dealing with all the costs and projects. Once a month I’m out assessing the site.

“It’s an amazing job and no day is the same. You don’t know what type of building you’re going to get. I love the diversity, you learn so much every single day.”

Dearbhla’s ultimate ambition is to be a TV Presenter for a construction related show like ‘Room to Improve’ or ‘Grand Designs’, offering expert advice on builds.

Dearbhla previously held the title of Miss Earth Northern Ireland in 2015 and was crowned Miss Derry in 2014, as her mum Siobhán is from the county.

This time, she is looking forward to wearing the Miss Donegal sash.

“I’m so proud to be representing Donegal. It’s my home and I try to come back as much as I can because I am really close with my family,” she said.

Applying for MUI, Dearbhla said, enables her to share her passion for being a female Quantity Surveyor. She is also promoting a unique initiative she is developing through work.

“I am part of a team working on an initiative for supporting a tutoring programme to help underprivileged children improve their mathematical ability in the boroughs of London.

“We hope to help children with mathematics and hopefully from a young age, we are opening up their eyes to that world,” she said.

Dearbhla has also adopted a social cause as part of her campaign and plans to organise a charity run in aid of the ISPCC.

Dearbhla has a strong passion for pageants and the platform they give to young women.

It’s an all-round good experience, she says: “Pageants are an awful lot more than beauty. A lot of people look dimly upon it, especially males, who look at it in that light. Miss Universe Ireland is about empowering females. It’s about giving women a voice and letting them know they have a network of people around that will support them. It also builds your confidence.”

The Miss Universe Ireland Final Show kicks off at 7.30pm this Thursday. The winner gains a once in a lifetime role as a goodwill Ambassador of Ireland at Miss Universe 2019, along with modelling opportunities and up to €70,000 in prizes.