The 2011 Arizona Irish Lasses are Shannon Caitlin Kelahan-Pierson and Maeve Caroline Cionci.

This program is designed to introduce young women of Irish descent ages 13 through 17 years old and their families to the Arizona Colleen and Rose of Tralee Program. Two titleholders of Arizona Irish Lass will be selected with a prize package awarded to each. They represent the Irish community in area events and will debut on stage during the Selection night for the 2010 Arizona Colleen. All contestants will ride in the Phoenix St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

The Arizona Irish Community welcomes two new Arizona Irish Lasses, selected among 6 contestants on October 24, 2010 at the Irish Cultural Center in Phoenix. Hosted by the Arizona Colleen Committee, every participant received a commemorative gift from Bunratty Castle, an Arizona Irish Lass contestant tee-shirt, and rides in the Phoenix 2011 St. Patrick’s Day Parade. These young women are smart, accomplished and presented themselves as wonderful representatives for the Irish Community. The talent performances were exceptional.

2011 Arizona Irish Lasses are:

Shannon Caitlin Kelahan-Pierson, 16, of Phoenix. She attends Xavier College Preparatory and received 5th place in the State of Arizona for the National Spanish Exam. She enjoys Irish dance, softball, volleyball, kayaking, singing, shopping, baking, and travel. Favorites include Hermione in the Harry Potter series and Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady (movies); Wii Fit, Scrabble, and Monopoly (games); and the books The Last of the Very Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews Edwards and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Shannon volunteers for the Hemophilia Association (four years) and the Leukemia/Lymphoma Association (13 years) and currently serves as VP of the Youth Ambassador Association for the Catholic Community Foundation. She is considering a career in marine biology or animal sciences. Her maternal great-great grandparents were from Monaghan and Armagh.

Maeve Caroline Cionci, age 16, of Mesa. She has received a number of awards in school including AIA-Scholastic Athletic Award last year where she plays Varsity Badminton for Mountain View HS. She likes Irish dance, sewing, church activities where she also helps out with the youth group, school clubs, and hanging out with friends. Maeve’s favorites include Shutter Island and the character Viola in She’s the Man (movies); Monopoly Deal, Rummicube, and Gestures (games); and the books, Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and Private by Kate Brian. Maeve participates in local canned food and school supply drives for Sunshine Acres. A big goal is to visit Africa and serve as a volunteer. She would love to pursue a career in biotechnology. Both sets of maternal grandparents are from County Mayo.

The Lass judges were Danielle McBurnett, 2010 Arizona Colleen~Arizona Rose, a Registered Nurse soon to complete her graduate work to become a Nurse Practitioner who served as Judges’ Chair; Irene Boland, Family Law Attorney and Partner with Gallios & Boland, PC; and Mary Corcoran Wnek, 1999 Arizona Colleen, high school teacher, and assistant Irish dance teacher, who also scored essays along with Kevin Sheh and Lyndsey Huff. The 2010 Arizona Irish Lasses, Emily Heiland and Colleen Kelahan-Pierson, participated in the ceremonies. This event appreciates the generosity of its Lass Tiara sponsor Remuda Ranch, a program to provide hope, healing, and life for those with eating disorders www.remudaranch.com. Special thanks to Jacquilyn Avery of DoChara Photography www.docharaphotography.com; Pat at Team Sport Outfitters for embroidery work and Gail Kimzin for sewing the sashes www.ronsteamsports.com; and the hard-working volunteers.

Also participating this year are Tori Gasca 14, Maureen van Dobben 13, Alexandra “Alex” Ashby 16, and Callan Dalton Gist 17. New this year, each of these Lass contestants will receive a “Lady in Waiting” sash and is invited to be a part of the 2011 Arizona Colleen Selection. A special guest to both the Shamrock and Lass Selections held back-to-back was County Cavan Rose of Tralee, Gráinne Smyth, who was visiting Danielle for a few days.

Shannon and Maeve were each awarded a sash, tiara, flowers, a gift bag that included a variety of items from Ireland; and received an official invitation to join the Queen on Celtic Weekend on March 13, 2011 to perform at the Arizona Renaissance Festival.Herberger Theatre Box Office at 602-252-8497; Third Street and Washington; Open Weekdays 10am-5pm, Weekends 12pm-5pm [additional fee if purchased online].