I learnt to deal with abuse watching dad handle hate as Ireland boss – I want to follow his footsteps & be a role model

The Irish Sun

16-06-2025

THE daughter of ex-Ireland manager Stephen Kenny has told how he helped her deal with tackling online abuse as she chased her dream of becoming the next Miss Ireland.
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Stephen Kenny and his daughter Caoimhe Kenny celebrated the Miss Ireland win
Credit: Brian McEvoy
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Caoimhe said there were tears backstage
Credit: Instagram @caoimhekenny1
The newly crowned beauty queen, who will be representing
The
Caoimhe told
'You just need to remind yourself that you're brave to put yourself out there.
'Negative things that people may have to say, they might just not be brave enough to put themselves out there like you are. You just need to own it and embrace the positive.
'Because for every few bad comments, there's hundreds of positive ones and those are the ones that you need to focus on.'
She added: 'I think anyone who's in the public eye is going to be subject to scrutiny. Sometimes it's not fair but it's just the way that the world is.'
Finalists from across the country put their best foot forward in a bid to grab the crown at the Knightsbrook Hotel on Saturday night.
The star-studded audience also included former Miss Irelands Rebecca Maguire, Lauren McDonagh, Aoife Walsh and Anne Marie Gannon.
Current Miss Universe Ireland Sofia Labus,
Caoimhe told how her dad was 'absolutely' an inspirational role model growing up.
Love Island legend Sharon Gaffka stuns in see-through dress at Miss Universe pageant
She said: 'He's always taught me to be myself and chase after my dreams.
'That's exactly what he did, and he succeeded at it. I'm very proud to call him a dad.
'In my eyes, and I'm sure so many other people's, he did his country incredibly proud and dedicated his life to football in Ireland.
'So that's what I hope to do now, is to make Ireland proud at Miss World and follow in his footsteps.'
EMOTIONAL NIGHT
After scooping the title, Caoimhe told how some tears flowed backstage, and that her dad was over-the-moon with her win.
She continued: 'He's absolutely delighted. He couldn't have been prouder.
'My family was all there on the night. That moment when I won, I looked down the room and I seen them all from the corner of my eye.
'They were standing up and cheering and it just reminded me why I was there and that support behind me.
'Everybody was chuffed for me. They could see how much it meant to me and the work that I've been putting in. I think they were just delighted for me.'
CHILDHOOD CHALLENGES
The 24-year-old, who volunteers at Save Our Homeless Dundalk and Hygiene Hub Louth, discussed how everyone faces their own challenges.
Caoimhe discussed how she moved 'around a lot as a child' when her dad was working with different teams.
She said: 'I went to several different schools. It was just trying to embrace that change.
'But I didn't look at it as a challenge and rather looked at it as an opportunity to meet new people and experience a new place.'
PAGEANT GOALS
While the beauty queen played football and
The talented mover wowed judges with a stunning lyrical dance performance at the final.
Caoimhe told how she had started working towards bagging the Miss Ireland title last year.
'In my eyes, and I'm sure so many other people's, he did his country incredibly proud and dedicated his life to football in Ireland."
Caoimhe Kenny
And after nabbing first runner up in Miss Universe Ireland, Caoimhe set herself a new goal.
She said: 'I think that really fuelled something inside me and it made me realise that through this platform and
'I couldn't think of a dream I'd had that was bigger than representing Ireland in Miss World.'
'GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT'
Caoimhe gushed that winning Miss Ireland is the 'greatest achievement' of her life.
She said: 'Representing Ireland at Miss World is a once-in a lifetime opportunity, and I'm determined to make it count.
'I will use this platform to be a voice for change and a role model for young girls like me, girls who dream to make a difference, showing them that kindness, courage, and purpose can lead to real impact.'
The Miss Ireland contest, dating back to 1947, has helped accelerate former queens careers, including
Caoimhe added: 'I grew up in a small town in Buncranan, Co
'If you were to say one day I'm going to be Miss Ireland, you might have not believed it.
'But it just goes to show that ordinary girls can become extraordinary women.'
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Caoimhe said it's a dream to represent Ireland like her dad did
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Former Miss Ireland Rebeccca Maguire crowned Caoimhe Kenny on Saturday night
Credit: Brian McEvoy
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Rosanna Davison was crowned Miss World 2003
Credit: REUTERS / HO / Miss World Organisation
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Miss Ireland dates back to 1947
Credit: Brian McEvoy