TraleeToday.ie’s coverage of the Kerry Rose Selection is brought to you by AIB Tralee…
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There’s less than three weeks go to until 23 ladies take to the Siamsa Tíre stage on June 4 in a bid to become the Kerry Rose 2022. It’s time to get to know them a little better…
Aislinn Burke
Aislinn Burke — Gleneagle Hotel & Apartments
Aislinn Burke lives on the outskirts of the beautiful Killarney town in the countryside. She is 19 years old and is a second-year nursing student in MTU Tralee.
She has a passion for the Irish language as she has been speaking it since she was four years of age and in her free time, she enjoys playing the piano.
Her Mother and Father first met at the Rose of Tralee in 1990 and so, she was always told that it was written in the stars that she should one day be a Kerry Rose, which is why this festival holds a special place in her heart.
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Amanda O’Sullivan
Amanda O’Sullivan — The White House Guesthouse
At 29, Amanda is a hotel manager from Kells & works in Kinsale. A passionate mental health advocate, Amanda regularly volunteers for suicide prevention charity, Pieta House.
It’s very close to her heart as she has lost too many great friends along the way. Her friends say she is a kind soul & would help anyone in need, at any time.
She is the youngest of four and was raised on a busy farm. As a true Kerry cailín, she loves to go home a lot to work on the farm with her family!
Car obsessed Amanda can often be spotted frequenting her local town of Kinsale in her pride and joy; Her blue BMW.
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Amy Galwey
Amy Galwey — Moriarty’s Centra Farranfore
Amy was born and bred in Currow and is a very proud Currow woman. She is involved in lots of aspects of the village. Amy plays football and basketball with the local club and also coaches an underage basketball team.
She is a senior member of the local youth club. Amy has done a lot of fundraising for cancer as unfortunately it’s a cause close to her heart.
Amy would be delighted to represent Kerry in the Rose of Tralee as funnily enough the Festival is the same age as her mom would be. They share the same birthday (along with Michael Jackson, lol!) – something she was always very proud of.
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Ashling O’Sullivan
Ashling O’Sullivan — The Sheehan Clinic
Ashling is from Waterville. Her childhood dream came through in 2015, when she joined An Garda Síochana and is currently stationed in Roxboro Road, Limerick.
Ashling has just completed her final year of a Bachelor of Laws. Ashling is actively involved with Macra na Feirme and particularly enjoys the social and sporting events associated with the charity.
Ashling likes running and hill walking and has trekked to Everest Base camp. Ashling loves to travel and has been to Australia, New Zealand, a number of countries in Asia and some European and American cities. Ashling is currently planning her first trip to Africa.
Bernadette O’Connor
Bernadette O’Connor — Nedar Heat
Bernadette works as a Special Needs Assistant in Tralee. She has had a varied career to date having a Diploma in Dental Nursing & Beauty Therapy.
She is part of the GAA Health & Wellbeing initiative and as a member, she volunteers for “The Little Stars Programme” which facilitates inclusion of children with additional needs in GAA.
She is passionate about raising awareness for mental health and is currently fundraising for Pieta house.
She wants to honour her mom’s memory by entering the Kerry Rose as her mother was a contestant in the eighties, and it was her dream for one of her girls to follow in her footsteps.
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Breda Fleming
Breda Fleming — Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa
Breda is from Milltown, a village in Mid Kerry. She holds a BA in Psychology, along with a First Class Honours Masters in Work & Organisational Psychology from UL. Breda is a Human Resources Manager for both the Aghadoe Heights Hotel and the Anner Hotel.
She is the youngest of a small family but grew up in a very busy household helping to care for her grandparents. She is passionate about music and is often heard singing in her local choir. She has won the Permanent TSB High Achievers Award for Voice.
Breda loves to travel; she represented her parish at World Youth Day in Krakow and has completed a skydive in New Zealand!
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Clodagh Dermody
Clodagh Dermody — The Mute Swan
Clodagh was born in the beautiful town of Killarney 26 years ago. Her mother hails from the lovely Maharees in the Dingle peninsula and her father is from Co. Carlow.
Her passion for Art was evident from a young age, and so she followed her heart and spent four happy years studying a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Fine Art and Design in Co. Cork.
An opportunity arose to return to the Kingdom, where she opened a cafe with her father during lockdown. Her passions include rowing and her adorable, adopted donkeys, Sam and Tom, and her lovely, adopted cat, Nala.
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Édaein O’Connell
Édaein O’Connell — Garvey’s Supervalu Listowel
Édaein O’ Connell hails from a place called Glenderry, located a mere 10-minute drive from Listowel.
Born and bred in the north Kerry area, she was schooled at both Dromclough National School and the Presentation Convent Secondary School in Listowel town. At 17, she attended NUIG in Galway city to study Civil Law.
After this, she completed a higher diploma in Business Studies at the same institution and a master’s in digital marketing from DIT in Dublin city. She planned on seeking out a career in just social media management, but when fast food chain McDonald’s swiped caramel sundaes from its menu, she happened upon a career in journalism.
Writing on everything from fashion to travel to pop culture, she has written for the likes of the Irish Independent, the Sunday Times Style Magazine, Metro UK and more.
In her spare time, she is an avid reader and a keen singer, having won two All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil titles back in the day.
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Eimear Horgan
Eimear Horgan — Carbery Cracker
Eimear is a 23-year-old Commercial Graduate working in the Marketing and Sustainability departments of Carbery Group in West Cork.
Growing up in Castleisland gave Eimear the opportunity to get involved in all types of sport, eventually settling on badminton where she has played for Kerry, UCC, and now Cork.
In addition to this, she enjoys set dancing and plays piano and harp, often performing for wedding receptions all around Kerry.
Eimear qualified with a First-Class Honours Degree in Commerce International with Hispanic Studies in 2021 and spent her Erasmus year in Bilbao in the Basque Country, immersing herself in the culture and exploring Spain.
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Emma Browne
Emma Browne — Enable Ireland
26-year-old Emma, from Kenmare works as a facilitator for Enable Ireland’s national virtual service. Emma enjoys meeting people and exploring new places and scenery.
Her hobbies include designing hand-made cards and taking photographs. Emma’s photographs were recently displayed in an exhibition which has travelled through the county called “adventure lockdown”.
Emma adores animals, and enjoys being out and about on her family farm and taking part in Kerry social farming. Over the years Emma has been involved in fundraising for many different charities which includes the Irish Cancer Society, Dogs for disabled, and Pieta house to name a few.
Heather Grey
Heather Grey — Kevin Leslie Contracting Ltd.
Heather is a 25-year-old pioneer and special education teacher from Castlemaine. She has a degree in English and Gaeilge, and a Masters in Education.
Heather is a professional singer, dancer and musician and has travelled the world competing and touring. She enjoys farming and hopes to complete her green cert soon. Heather has received awards in dancing, singing, music, judo, athletics, and art.
At 14 she began volunteering as a Scór mentor and is heavily involved in her community. Heather donated her hair to Children with Hair Loss and has been actively involved with many charities including Women’s aid, and Autism assistance dogs, Ireland. Her passions lie in Irish culture and special education.
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Jennifer O’Connor
Jennifer O’Connor — AsIAm
Jennifer is a 27-year-old Adult Support and Wellbeing Officer for Ireland’s National Autism Charity, AsIAm.
Through her work with AsIAm, Jennifer works to reduce social isolation and underemployment in the adult autistic community. Jennifer has a passion for writing, literature, and prose.
She completed her BA and MSc in writing and linguistics at the National University of Ireland, Galway. In September, Jennifer intends to begin a PhD Programme in Literary Practice and research representations of disabled women in literature.
Originally from Abbeydorney, Jennifer resides in Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. Jennifer enjoys spending time with her cousins and grandparents and writing in her spare time.
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