BY AMY ROSE HARTE

AFTER two years of inactivity, the Miss Donegal campaign is back with a blast.

This year, Ramelton girl and top local model Laura Harte has been chosen to represent Milan Nightclub Letterkenny in the 2007 Miss Ireland competition, where she will follow in the footsteps of Miss Ireland champ Natasha NicGairbheith from Derrybeg.

A 20 year-old childcare student at the Technical College in Derry, Laura was chosen to go forward in the contest because she has been modelling locally for the last four years. She was also a finalist in the recent Miss Shell competition.

Speaking to the Donegal News, Laura said she was delighted to be given the once in a lifetime opportunity.

"I was so pleased to get the chance to enter Miss Ireland, I have always dreamed of being a model and now I am one step closer to that goal.

"I'm a bit nervous about the whole thing but at the same time I'm really excited to get down to Dublin and meet loads of people. I've been told to keep my diary free for the next few weeks because I'm going to be very busy."

The 5' 11" blonde will now go forward as Miss Milan Nightclub Letterkenny in the final which is being held in the Silversprings Hotel in Cork on June 30. She faces a whirlwind month of television appearances, photoshoots, press launches and glitzy events as she attempts to woo the nation with her Donegal charm. Sharon Bradley and Sinead Magee, the organisers of this year's Miss Donegal, say they think Laura has an excellent chance of winning. They will both accompany her to Cork.

CONTINUED ON DN 3