competitions, we Kilkenny people seem to have a natural ability to win, no matter what it is.
Our very own Kilkenny woman Anne-Marie Malone showed sheer determination as she fled to Poland to secure the free whopping €20,000 wedding reception with Beat 102-103’s Runaway Bride competition.
The flight of the brides took place on Sunday where the nail-biting finale saw Anne Marie Malone from Kilkenny and Laura Finnegan from Waterford go head to head, to get as far as possible in 24 hours with only €50.
Laura managed to travel 814 kilometres to get to Brussels but Anne-Marie’s determination and resourcefulness ensured she got much further, travelling 2,032 kilometres with a final destination of a little town near Krakow in Poland. Anne-Marie and her fiancé Dave are the winners of a fantastic wedding at Lismore House Hotel worth €20,000
The tension mounted on Beat 102-103 last week as listeners voted for their favourite couple, after hearing their stories on Beat Breakfast.
On Friday afternoon, DJ Andy Mac announced on Beat Drive that the brides to go head to head for the coveted prize were Anne Marie Malone and Dave Noonan from Kilkenny along with Laura Finnegan from Waterford and Padraig O’Halloran from Tipperary.
And what a weekend that followed. Beat 102-103’s Niall Power and Leigh Doyle acted as chaperones to the two women as their blagging skills were put to the ultimate test.
After her valiant efforts, Anne Marie managed to blag a bus ride to Dublin airport, busked, shoe shined and carried luggage all Saturday night to earn some extra money. Anne Marie could not spend more than €50 so she had to avail of help from strangers to book a flight for her to Poland. She flew in to Krakow and then got on a train with her final destination just shy of the Ukranian border; a massive 2,032 kilometres from her starting point in Waterford city. Anne Marie and her fiancé, Dave Noonan, can now look forward to planning their fairytale wedding.
Runner up Laura Finnegan for her efforts, gets herself the fab prize of €1,000 towards a wedding at Lismore House Hotel. Laura flew to London airport courtesy of a free flight from Aer Arann and Waterford Airport. She then got a ferry to Calais and a train to Brussels airport, travelling 814 kilometres.
