The daughter of the late musician Pecker Dunne will be the first Irish Traveller to compete in the Miss Ireland competition.

Sarah Jane Dunne was chosen to represent Kilkenny in next month's contest, which will take place on July 19.

The Killimer model hasn't experienced any discrimination about her Traveller background while competing.

"It comes up in conversation sometimes, but I think it's a positive thing for most people to see someone put on a platform, who would normally be associated with a particular, stereotypical image," she said.

Ms Dunne has just received an honours degree from Trinity College Dublin and she is now a qualified English and Religion secondary school teacher.

Originally from Clare, the 24-year-old has been living in Kilkenny city for just over a year.

So far this year, Ms Dunne won the Miss Trinity College contest and she also took part in 2fm's Miss Personality competition last month.

Irish Independent