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It’s been three months since Elysha Brennan’s life changed as she knew it when she was chosen to represent the marvellous class of 2015 as the Rose of Tralee. Elysha outlines her experience to date…
Elysha Brennan pictured in the Town Park the morning after being crowned Rose of Tralee. Photo by Dermot Crean
From that night on the 18th of August, it has been the most incredible and formative journey of my life. And we really are only getting started.
Tralee was the most magical and special experience of my whole life, I made bonds with my fellow Rose sisters which will last a lifetime and lived moments that will stay in my memory forever.
A definite highlight shortly after being crowned, was ticking one of the BIG things off my bucket list and that was appearing on the Late Late Show.
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Looking back, it is so surreal that I was given that amazing opportunity, and was interviewed on the couch of a show I watch religiously every Friday night.
I was welcomed so warmly and with such excitement in my home county of Meath, there were such celebrations and I was made to feel so special. The sense of home county pride in Meath was palpable at my homecoming, and it was an honour to share it with family, friends and fellow Roses and Rose Escorts.
Travelling to Kolkata with The Hope Foundation has been the highlight of my Rose of Tralee journey thus far.
The Hope Foundation are an absolutely wonderful charity that care for and educate street and slum children in Kolkata, India. It opened my eyes to the struggles and challenges some people face on a daily basis, I came home with a new found and deep rooted perspective and gratitude for all the blessings I’ve been given in life.
I have met so many extraordinary people throughout my time as the Rose of Tralee, I have become an Ambassador for Aoibheann’s Pink Tie – a paediatric oncology charity based out of St John’s ward Crumlin.
They offer practical support and advice to families going through childhood cancer. I can’t praise the work that Jimmy Norman and Mick Rochford do. They are two of my personal heroes.
I have been privileged enough to have met some of the Aoibheanns Pink Tie heroes and princesses & have learned so much from their courage, bravery and ability to smile through pain and suffering.
I am looking forward to spending Christmas this year with family and friends. Christmas is a very special and sacred time in our house, it means so much to be all together under the one roof and get to spend some much needed quality time with one another.
Life can be so busy and everyone is pulled in different directions, so Christmas is an amazing time to regroup and come together to celebrate the year we have had & all the blessings we have been given.
The prospect of the new year excites me and I am planning on cherishing and making the most of my time as this year’s Rose of Tralee, I have five more oversees visits planned, which is absolutely fantastic.
My passport will be well stamped come August. My aim for this year is to be able to look back in August, on my time as the Rose of Tralee and know in my heart I gave it absolutely everything I had & did all the things I set out to do!
I wish everybody & their families a special and wonderful Christmas & a healthy, happy and prosperous new year!
• The search to find the 2016 Rose of Tralee will commence in earnest on Women’s Christmas, Wednesday 6th January, when the 2015 Rose, Elysha Brennan and RTÉ Presenter, Dáithí Ó Sé announce details of next year’s selection process.
