MELISSA Glynn is a dab hand at plaiting the family’s Crannaghmore horses but now the Athlone schoolteacher enjoys the occasional pampering session during her reign as the Ballinasloe Fair and Festival’s Queen of the Fair.

Crowned before the 300th anniversary of the horse fair last October, Melissa is thoroughly enjoying the experience. “It has been a wonderful opportunity,” said Melissa who, with her parents PJ and Majella and brothers Darragh and Lorcan, has attended the Fair for years.

The latest highlight was the town’s St Patrick’s Day parade. Melissa, who teaches at St. Coman’s Wood Primary School, Roscommon, also took part in the Teagasc ISH Young Breeders programme and placed third in the 2019 HSI All Ireland young handlers championship hosted at the National Ploughing Championships.