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MISS EARTH IRELAND
LAYLA DOHERTY
DESCRIBE YOUR CHILDHOOD/GROWING YEARS
I had possibly the best childhood growing up. I was always surrounded by two loving parents, Donna and Pat, my sister Sheola and my two brothers Pearse and Henry. I am the eldest and we grew up in a small village called Ballyliffin situated as far north as you can go in Ireland. In Ballyliffin, everyone knows each other so there is always a sense of community and we are surrounded by the most amazing beaches and scenery you could imagine. I am from a farming background so I always grew up around animals, mainly sheep and calves. My parents gave us the best possible chance at life, we were always so grateful for everything they gave us and we come from such a loving home.. I was a very outgoing child and I specifically loved drama and dancing. I loved school and was a bit of a bookworm.
WHAT IS YOUR MEMORABLE MOMENT?
My most memorable moment would have to be when I was 15 years old. Part of one of the English exams required a presentation in front of the whole class. I was always a very confident and outgoing person but when I stood up in front of the class, I couldn’t speak and I was quite visibly trembling. Everyone started to laugh at me and I left the classroom crying. It really affected my confidence going forward. However, it really pushed me a few years later to get back to public speaking and grow my confidence. When I did my first pageant I was so determined I wouldn’t let it happen again and I would prove to everyone that I could do it. If it wasn’t for that experience I wouldn’t have been as determined to go for pageants and look where I am now.
ANY SPECIAL STORIES OR FACTS ABOUT YOUR FAMILY?
Where we live in Ireland, is such a rural , close community and nearly everyone knows each other. We all have the same or similar family names even though we aren’t related to each other so everyone goes by nickname. My family nickname is Davy so everyone at home calls me Layla Davy. Davy comes from the Irish gaeilge name “Dawey” which translates to beside the river as our family homestead is situated beside a river in Urris, Co. Donegal.
WHAT IS THE MOST UNUSUAL THING YOU HAVE EVER DONE?
The most unusual thing that I have ever done is I have watched ever Disney movie made. I am a massive Disney fan and having grown up with younger siblings I have definitely seen some of them a lot more than once. I still watch them all the time to this day and my favourite is Christopher Robin as it brings me back to watching Winnie the Pooh as a child but the story is about an adult.
WHAT TIPS CAN YOU SHARE TO PROMOTE ECOTOURISM & CLIMATE CHANGE?
Ireland is a country made for tourists. A large part of the Irish economy is made up from the hospitality sector and 11.3 million tourists visit each year to experience our amazing scenery and wildlife. I would love to see Irish businesses take a more responsible approach to tourism methods. There are organizations within the country that offer training and certification in sustainable tourism. We will never save the planet in a day but with continuous improvement we could lead a more eco friendly and responsible tourism sector. Resource consumption, for example, water, electricity and wastage, should be reduced where possible-in work or at home. Inadequate tourist facilities also affect eco tourism.
WHAT MAKES YOU PROUD OF YOUR COUNTRY?
I am extremely proud to be Irish. Given our history and today’s challenges we are an extremely determined population. Possibly the friendliest nation ever, we say hello to everyone whether we know them or not. We have our own customs, language, music, dance, sports and mythology. I am extremely proud to represent the emerald isle. One thing about being Irish that I think will always stay with me is the community spirit that's present everywhere. You always have someone you can talk to and no matter where you go you're bound to run into someone you know. It’s this sense of community and helping each other that makes Ireland a really warm place to call home. No matter where you travel to in the world you’ll run into the Irish and it’s comforting to know.
WHAT IS YOUR ADVOCACY?
My advocacy is something very close to my heart. In Donegal, where I live, we have a serious crisis at the minute called Mica. Mica is a mineral that has been detected in the majority of the houses in Donegal and this mineral causes the structures to crumble at rapid paces. I live in a mica house and it’s a very scary situation. The bottom line is that someday , someone's house is going to fall on top of them and possibly kill many but we are getting no help from our government. At the minute we are fighting for help as no one can afford to fix their homes. A massive majority of these homes will have to be demolished and it made me think about the environmental problems that may occur during construction. I am proud to be able to represent those who are struggling with mica while also voicing my concerns about sustainable building, how we can implement more sustainable building methods and materials and waste management on site.