HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) - Applications are now open for the St. Patrick's Committee of Holyoke's 2025 Grand Colleen Pageant. St. Patrick’s Committee of Holyoke names Devin Sheehan as 66th Rohan Award winner Being a Colleen means representing women who are proud of their Irish heritage and community and helps them build connections, gain self-confidence, and develop skills that will help in their present and future career paths.  According to the St. Patrick's Committee of Holyoke, some of the eligibility requirements are: Must be a woman Single (never been married or never had a child) No less than 17 years old by March 17, 2025, and a senior in high school; nor more than 22 years old by March 17, 2025; A resident of Holyoke or South Hadley Must claim Irish ancestry Completion of application Applications will be accepted now through December 29th. All of the contestants will have an orientation meeting at the Wyckoff Country Club on December 30th. The pageant is set to take place on January 4th at the Holyoke High School. The five finalists will go on to the Coronation Ball to have the Grand Colleen crowned. The Grand Colleen, along with her Colleen Court, will be on a float over the two-mile Holyoke Saint Patrick's Parade route on March 23rd. "I want to encourage anyone who is considering running or running again to please do so. This contest pushes you about 10,000 feet outside of your comfort zone but it will reward you for every single foot. It has changed my life for the better and I hope it can do the same for you,” said 2024 Grand Colleen Elizabeth Gourd. The 48th Holyoke St. Patrick’s Road Race will be held on Saturday, March 22. Local News Headlines Strangulation expert shares domestic violence signs at Springfield training What’s the most popular Halloween candy in Massachusetts? Will Massachusetts see northern lights, power grid impacts amid ‘severe’ geomagnetic storm? This is how many are in Massachusetts emergency housing assistance WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.