By: Denise Foley

Brittney Lough

Like many pageant winners, Brittney Lough (pronounced “Law”), was startled into tears when she heard the emcee pronounce her Philadelphia’s new “Mary from Dungloe” at the climax of the Donegal Association’s annual competition, held on April 22 at the Irish Center.

But the miracle was, she heard it. At the age of 2, Brittney, a 20-year-old sophomore psychology major at West Chester University, was diagnosed with profound hearing loss in both ears. Without her hearing aids, Brittney’s world is silent.

And so was the room when Brittney stood before the microphone to answer the judges’ question, “What experience had a profound impact on your life?”

“I got up and said, ‘I’m hearing-impaired, and that helped me realize what it means to be different and why it’s important not to hold that against anyone. It wasn’t always easy, but it made me a better person.’”

Afterward, she says, the judges told her that if she could bring 100 restless people to a stunned quiet, “imagine what will happen when I go to Ireland.”

In August, Brittney, who grew up in Havertown and lives in Darby,  will be competing with “Marys” from all over the United States and Ireland (and any other continent where there are young women of Irish descent) for the international title, now held by Lansdale nurse Katie Armstong, 25, last year’s Philadelphia Mary. (See her story.) Brittney will be traveling with her parents, Bill and Bernadette Lough, and her boyfriend, Michael Hallahan, and his parents, to Dungloe, County Donegal, to take part in this 39-year tradition that commemorates a young woman and her lost love. It will be her first trip to Ireland. “My first trip out of the country!” she says with a grin.

The only requirement to enter the Mary from Dungloe pageant is that you be a woman, ages 18-25, of Irish descent. How Irish are you?

My one grandmother is from Sligo, the other is from Mayo. One grandfather is from Mayo, and the other is from Derry. I’m the oldest of five [her siblings are Blaize, 13; Bianca, 9; Brooke, 6; and Brendan, 2]. My mom had three brothers all close in age, and my dad is one of six brothers and sisters—that’s a real Irish family! I can never keep all the cousins straight. When I run into one of them at a family wedding, I just say, “I’m pretty sure you’re my cousin, but I’m not sure who you are!”

Is your family close?

Yes. My mom had me when she was 19 and so she’s always been the younger mom. We pretty much tell each other everything.

Like TV’s Gilmore Girls?

Right! (Laughing) And my grandmother on my mother’s side is one of my best friends. We gossip on the phone all the time. My cousin, Jennifer Dunne, is also one of my best friends, and she was first runner-up in the Mary from Dungloe pageant.

What was it like growing up with a disability?

When I was younger I did go through a tough time, especially when I was in my early teens. I wanted to be like all the other girls. Some people didn’t like me because I was hearing impaired. But kids are kids, and some will be mean just to be mean. My disability isn’t really obvious, but I once dated a boy who, when he saw my hearing aids, said he couldn’t go out with me anymore. But I moved on from that. It took me a while, but I finally realized, well, if someone doesn’t like me it’s their loss. I can’t make people like me.

Did your hearing loss ever keep you from doing anything you wanted to do?

Not really. I did cheerleading when I was in high school. I was on junior varsity in freshman year, and varsity, sophomore and junior year. I decided to leave the squad in my senior year and joined an all-star team because I liked the competition part of cheerleading better than I liked cheering at the games. The music was very fast-paced, so to follow it I used visual cues and I counted the beat in my head. We practiced every day so I committed the steps to memory. I’m also a receptionist at a local hair salon and have to answer the phones. It isn’t easy to hear because I’m between two stations, and once the blow dryers are on ... But I got a phone adapter that allows me to adjust the volume and it’s fine.

And two years ago, I went to Washington, D.C., to testify before the Congressional Committee for Hearing Health about why the government should be funding more programs for the hearing impaired. I told them that I’m hearing impaired and a living example of what those programs can do.

Bonus Question:

What do you plan to do with your psychology degree?

After graduation, I’ll go on to graduate school and get my masters in child psychology. I always felt I could relate to children, especially those with disabilities. I want to work in a clinic rather than a school, though I learned so much at the hearing-impaired program at the Wallingford School. I had great teachers and I still keep in touch with them. But I really think I can help children with more severe problems who have trouble coping. I think I understand what’s going on inside of them because of my own experience.

Links

Mary from Dungloe Contest Web Site