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Phoebe is hoping to strike it lucky with ‘bingo book' Kouture

March 7th, 2019 11:50 AM

By Kieran O'Mahony

Phoebe Kearney models her ‘bingo books' dress.

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A Bandon student who has designed a dress consisting of used bingo books is hoping for a ‘full house' when she competes in the regional final of the prestigious Junk Kouture competition this month.

A BANDON student who has designed a dress consisting of used bingo books is hoping for a ‘full house’ when she competes in the regional final of the prestigious Junk Kouture competition this month.

Phoebe Kearney, a 5th year student at Coláiste na Toirbhirte, is no stranger to  the competition, having also entered last year.

Her dress is aptly titled ‘Strike it Lucky’, and Phoebe is hoping her numbers will come up in the annual competition which encourages second level students to create original and innovative outfits using only recycled materials. 

Over 1,400 designs were entered for this year’s competition and only 400 designs progressed to the regional finals.

Speaking to The Southern Star, Phoebe said that the inspiration from her dress came from going to bingo with her grandmother.

‘Last summer I went to bingo with my grandmother in the GAA Pavilion in Bandon and noticed the piles of bingo books in the bin so I decided to use these to make the dress,’ said Phoebe.

‘The design shows us the importance of our local communities and activities they offer such as bingo. These activities help bring people the people of the community together.’ 

Phoebe will now contest in the Southern Regional Final of Bank of Ireland Junk Kouture in Limerick on March 8th along with other West Cork students, including finalists from Sacred Heart Secondary School in Clonakilty, Kinsale Community School, Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí and Mount St Michael in Rosscarbery.

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