The Arizona Colleen and the Mayor of Killarney have met up as part of the Killarney Town Twinning Association’s sister town project.
The Arizona organisation sent its 41st participant to Ireland for a cultural heritage programme to highlightt he US State’s relationship with towns and cities around the world.
Similar in concept to the Rose of Tralee festival, the Arizona Colleen pageant is open to single women of Irish ancestry aged between 18 and 28 and the winner serves as Queen of the Phoenix St Patrick’s Day Parade and festival.
The woman selected also receives a trip to Ireland, a $2,000 scholarship and a Claddagh ring as a part of her prize package.
This year’s winner is Johanna “Jojo” Huckeba, a 28-year-old cliniccal social work therapist from Tempe, Arizona. She holds a Master’s degree from the Watts College of Public Service at Arizona State University and a Bachelor’s of Art in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University.
A multi-generation Irish-American, Jojo is eager to connect with her Irish roots through service and cultural exchange at home and abroad.
Mayor of Killarney, Cllr Maura Healy-Rae, met with Jojo during her visit to the town as part of Killarney’s twinning relationship with Scottsale in Arizona.
In addition to Killarney, the Arizona Colleen also visited Dublin, Antrim, Tullamore, Roscommon and Ennis as part of her tour of Ireland.
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