Episode 9 - Shine A Light

Shine a Light with Sinéad Hubble and Daniel Boyne

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Portarlington lecturer and model Cleo Knight has been crowned Ms Ireland 2026.

Cleo represented Offaly In the national competition, which took place in the Canal Court Hotel in Newry last Saturday.

For the contest Cleo launched her own campaign “Further Than You Think” which encourages people to reconsider what success can look like when their education does not go according to plan.

After receiving 65 points in her Leaving Certificate, Cleo was left questioning her own abilities and uncertain about her future. Cleo spent many years feeling ashamed by here Leaving Cert a time she found very difficult but she ultimately made the decision to not let it defy her future.

Cleo returned to education for over seven years of further and higher education, including undergraduate and postgraduate study.

Today, Cleo works in further education in Ballyfermot, Dublin, as a business and media lecturer and a coordinator of a business and psychology degree programme. Her experience now informs her work with learners facing their own doubts about education.

Cleo is very passionate about the next generation and her campaign Further Than You Think highlights alternative paths to success, encouraging young people and adult learners not to let setbacks define their future.

Being crowned Ms Ireland did come as a shock for the Offaly woman but she can’t wait to represent the county and the country.

She’s been sharing her story on Shine A Light, which is Funded by the News reporting Scheme.

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