International flavour to 40th Kildare Derby Festival Pageant as Hungarian Eva charms her way to the title!

Representing Café K in Kildare Town, gorgeous Eva Lendvay was announced the 40th Kildare Derby Festival Queen to a packed attendance in Studio One. However, her party piece was certainly a first for the pageant – she demonstrated her archery skills with a traditional Hungarian bow. Much to the relief of MC Noel Shannon, he was allowed to step out of the way before Eva aimed, shot and found the target!

Hungarian born Eva told the audience she came to Ireland 8-9 years ago, and she’s never going back because all the best things in her life happened here in Ireland.

“I became me here!” she stated. “Here I met my fiance Vinnie… all the biggest things happen here – well, except for when he proposed to me in Portugal”. In a stunning beaded dress, the dark haired beauty discussed her love of fitness and how proud she was of Vinnie, a former jockey, that he was Ireland’s first professional body builder.

“I’m proud of him for that” she said before speaking of her own success at Bikini Fitness shows. “You are judged on the symmetry of your body… it means a lot of hard work and is not as easy as it sounds”.

But she spoke with great affection of the support of the owners and staff of Café K, plus the customers input yesterday, knowing she was competing last night.

“Café K is ten years in the heart of Kildare, and I must be working there 3-4 years. The customers were putting posters of my face up on the windows today – I feel so loved!”

Despite having lived also in California, she confessed she was staying in Ireland because “Irish people are really great and so friendly!” Eva has also learned to horse ride, and whilst racing was not a popular past time in her native Hungary, she has grown to love the sport in Ireland.

“Oh my God” she said after she was announced the winner “I came here tonight saying to myself, just do your best. I am so grateful, I am so happy, thank you!”

But it was not an easy task for the judges, Rose B O’Donoghue (Kildare Post); Noel O’Driscoll (Kildare Nationalist); Sarah Peppard (Leinster Leader); Amy Kelly, Fashion MC at the Curragh Racecourse; Joanne Hyland (Curragh Racecourse) and Liam O’Keefe, Chair/Adjudicator of Judging Panel.

“This is definitely one of the highest standards I’ve ever seen at the Derby Festival” said MC Noel Shannon. “Thirteen girls took to the stage, and did themselves proud, they were all stunning, so articulate and it certainly a night of firsts!”

Aside from archery, Noel found himself helping with some cake decorating, another contestant played the bodhran, some sang, whilst many read poetry, several being originals and written for the pageant.

Ollie Kearns, Chair of the Festival Committee thanked the contestants before the event begin, and wished them well in their careers and future lives, he also praised the workload carried out by the committee, plus the consistent support of the sponsors.

More coverage of the pageant on Kildare Now over the weekend and in next week’s Kildare Post. In the meantime, congratulations to Eva Lendvay, 2018 Derby Festival Queen who was congratulated by last year’s winner, Nicole Hyland. As for Eva’s fiance, Vinnie, be sure to marry her, Vinnie, the way she handles that bow could be detriment to your health!