Tuam student raises chronic pain awareness in bid for Miss Ireland crown

A YOUNG woman from Tuam is preparing to represent Galway on the national stage after being selected as one of the finalists in the Miss Ireland 2026 competition.

Erin Dunleavy, a final year Marketing and Sales student at Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Galway, will compete for the much-coveted crown at the finals on Saturday, November 21.

The Tuam native is among 33 finalists who made it through the first round of applications and interviews earlier this year.

Erin told The Tuam Herald that she got involved in the competition after attending a launch event, where she was invited by a friend and a former Galway contestant.

As part of the competition, finalists are encouraged to promote a cause of personal importance to them.

The Galway representative has been using the platform to raise awareness of chronic pain in Ireland, as well as raising funds for the Ronald McDonald House at Crumlin's Children's Hospital.

“It is something I deal with myself, and I want to raise awareness about all the resources that are there that a lot of people don't know about,” said Erin.

At the age of 12, she suddenly lost much of her mobility in one leg and hip, leading to more than two years of hospital appointments.

She spent a lot of her teenage years learning to walk without a crutch and going through tests trying to find answers.

“I know how isolating it can be. I also know there are a lot of people in the country living with pain, but there is not much information available around how many children are living with it,” she added.

A study conducted by the Centre of Pain Research at University of Galway highlighted that one in three people in Ireland are living with chronic pain.

“I want to let make them aware of Chronic Pain Ireland, who have got a great service for people who are struggling,” she continued.

Erin has been sharing her experience as a student with chronic pain on TikTok. A video she posted about how Leaving Cert results can’t define what people go through gained a lot of attention as well.

“A lot of young people were messaging me about how they were scared about their results, and they were living with chronic pain or illness,” highlighted Erin.

Erin is also collecting donations for pamper hampers for families staying in Ronald McDonald House.

An idonate page has been created to raise funds, as she hopes to prepare up to 150 hampers to be donated to the RMD House, where parents or families of sick children in hospital can stay.

“We are also taking donations of actual hampers that people can create. It can include a few self-care bits, some toiletries, face masks, hand creams etc.”

Erin receives great support from her parents Fran and Nigel Dunleavy and her younger brother Calum who are all looking forward to the finals in November.

The local community can also support Erin in her journey by donating to her cause and by voting for her in the competition.

Voting is now open through the Miss Ireland app MI Org, with one free vote available every 24 hours.