Earlier this year Specsavers staff from all across Ireland launched a search to discover the nation’s most fabulous specs wearer, and from the thousands of entries received a Tuam woman was selected as one of the finalists.
Roseanne Melia (22 ) of Tuam in Co Galway was selected as a finalist in the 16 to 24 category. The 2013 Spectacle Wearer of the Year competition saw a total of eight finalists across four age categories make it all the way to the final. The age categories were 16 to 24, 25 to 39, 40 to 59, and 60 plus.
On Wednesday August 14 Ms Melia joined the seven other finalists at the Royal Hibernian Gallery on Dublin’s Ely Place to battle it out at the Irish final to become Ireland’s Spectacle Wearer of the Year. Avid specs wearer Roseanne – a fourth year nursing student at NUI Galway won in the age 16 to 24 category. Having enjoyed a day of pampering ahead of the event, all eight finalists got to take part in a photo shoot and were red carpet ready ahead of meeting MC on the night, TV presenter, stylist and blogger extraordinaire Darren Kennedy.
Speaking at the national final, Specsavers Galway customer Ms Melia said: ‘I am over the moon to have reached the Irish final. When I entered the competition it was a real spur-of-the-moment thing and I never imagined I would make it as a finalist. I’m really proud to have represented Galway in the national final.”
The overall winner on the night was Shay Martin, from Dublin, the finalist in the over 60s category.
MC Darren Kennedy was on hand to introduce each of the finalists to the panel of judges as they took to the stage. Judges making the all-important decision included TV personality and model agent Celia Holman Lee, showbiz reporter with Irish Daily Mirror Sam Hamilton as well as a Specsavers representative.
Runner up Ms Melia received a €215 Specsavers eyecare voucher, a framed Spectacle Wearer of the Year certificate, a bottle of champagne, and a fabulous goodie bag.
