December 9, 2009

The Arizona Irish Community welcomes two new Little Miss Shamrocks, selected among 17 contestants on Sunday, November 15, 2009 at the Irish Cultural Center in Phoenix. Hosted by the Arizona Colleen Committee, we believe in creating a fun occasion for everyone there, and recognize the importance of sharing the title rather than focusing on one winner takes all. Every participant received an “all things shamrock” variety of gifts, a Little Miss Shamrock contestant tee-shirt, and will ride in the 2010 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Phoenix. The families and our local Irish can be VERY proud of these young ladies!

2010 Little Miss Shamrocks are:
Emilia Jane Nallen, age 11, of Scottsdale. She in on the Honor Roll and Principal’s List; qualified for Honor Orchestra and Honor Choir; and is in advanced Spanish. For the Shamrock’s talent category, Emilia performed by singing and then playing the violin. She enjoys waterskiing, swimming, and biking, playing the piano, and writing. Favorites include August Rush (movie); Irish Monopoly (game); and the books, The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall, and Shakespeare’s Secret by Elise Broach. Both her parents were born in Ireland in County Offaly. In looking to the future, “This has always been my lifelong dream,” shares Emilia, “to be a famous singer or musician.”

Alexandria “Allee” Leigh Ellershaw, age 7, of Surprise. Allee enjoys dressing up, reading, sports, playing with her dog and cats, and is in Brownies. She won the “Caring” award at school last year. Allee performs and competes in Irish dancing and recently had a solo as the Mouse Queen in the Irish Nutcracker. She Irish danced as her talent at the Shamrock selection, dressed as a fairy. Her dad grew up along the Irish Sea and she has a great-grandfather with family living in Ireland that she visits. Allee’s favorites include High School Musical and Tinkerbell (movies); Petz on the DS (game); and the books, Tinkerbell and the Lost Treasure by Kimberly Morris and The Bible. A career as a veterinarian interests her.

The Shamrock judges were Queen Beatrice of the Arizona Renaissance Festival in full costume, an Irish step dancer as a young girl (for real!), serving as Chair; Anna O’Hara, President of The Irish Foundation of Arizona, and former middle school Language Arts and Reading teacher; and Alexis Hodel, 2009 Arizona Colleen and 2009 Arizona Rose, a kinesiology major at ASU and Lead Instructor for Arizona’s Bracken School of Irish Dance. Sir Guy de Foix was the gallant knight and escort for all the young contestants. This event appreciates the generosity of its Shamrock Tiara sponsors: Cindy Littwin, director and owner of All About Nannies, Inc., a professional placement service for full-time, part-time, babysitting, mother’s newborn helper, and sick child care (www.allaboutnanniesinc.com); and The Irish Foundation of Arizona. Special thanks to Jacquilyn Avery of DoChara Photography (www.docharaphotography.com); Starbucks at McClintock and Southern for providing cups and lids (essential for the wee ones in the crowd!); and the hard-working, volunteers.

Also participating this year were Megan Kernaghan (7), Shaelyn Ellershaw (11), Aria Jones (8), Tessa Henrich (10), Kaitlynn Riley (6), Danielle Lennon (8), Kathryn “Katie” Reed (7), Kiera Wesley (10), Rebecca Hamby (8), MacKenzie Moore-Kosslow (8), Megan Olson (7), Mary Rita Brown (6), Aileen Cagney (7), Margaret “Maggie” Kenzler (9), and Hannah Hamby (11).

The 2009 Little Miss Shamrocks, Erin Miller of Tempe and Michelle Wilson of Glendale, participated in the ceremonies. Emilia and Allee each received an autographed copy of The Ghillie Girls: Irish Dance Pals by author and illustrator Heidi Barry Will, 2005 Colleen and Vice Chair of the Arizona Colleen Programs. The girls were each awarded a sash, tiara, flowers, a gift bag that included a charm bracelet, a shamrock pillow craft, plus tickets to Childsplay’s theatre production of Junie B. Jones Jingle Bells Batman Smells at the Tempe Center for Arts; and received an official invitation by the Queen to join her Celtic Weekend at the Arizona Renaissance Festival. Emilia and Allee will officially “debut” at the Arizona Colleen and Rose of Tralee Selection on February 20, 2010. Tickets available.

For more information about these programs, visit www.azcolleen.org or call Ann at 602-568-3455.