Meet The Kerry Rose 2022 Contestants (Part 2)

TraleeToday.ie’s coverage of the Kerry Rose Selection is brought to you by AIB Tralee…

You already met 12 Kerry Rose 2022 Contestants earlier (click here), now here’s the rest of the ladies…

Katie Foley — Vic Murphy Beauty

Katie is 28 years old. She is originally from Mallow, Co. Cork but moved to the Village of Ardfert with her family when she was a little girl. Katie is a genuine people’s person and always had a love for hospitality.

A little under 3 years ago, she started working in hotels as a receptionist and she is now a duty manager of The Brandon Hotel in Tralee.

She is the proud stepmother to a 9-year-old boy and is due to get married in 2 years’ time. Katie’s friends would describe her as outgoing, kind, generous and the first person they would call if they were ever in trouble.

Katie Galvin — McKenna’s Listowel

Katie is a 24-year-old musician, with a love for animals. Her BA is in Irish Music. She also graduated from Radio Kerry. Katie has just qualified in Animal Care!

She plays the fiddle and sings, and has performed in England with Moxie’s Darren Roche, Elle Marie O’Dwyer and Bryan Murphy.

Now, she works as a Dog Groomer. She loves playing football with the dogs and she has her own dog named Bella. Katie’s dad passed away in 2019.

In her free time, she likes watching animal programs, but dislikes too much screen time. An inspirational figure she would love to meet is Sharon Shannon.

Lauren Costello — Torc Hotel, Killarney

Lauren is 21 years of age and is from Killorglin. She is the youngest of 3 children and her extended family would be known as the Chubs.

Lauren’s great-grandfather was Timothy Chub O’Connor, who was a TD in the Dáil. Lauren has a great love and respect for her family.

She has taken part in the Rose Festival before as a rosebud in 2010. Lauren was paired with the Carlow rose and says it was one of the best experiences of her life.

Lauren loves volunteeringand has volunteered with Hoare’s machinery for the Ukraine. Cystic fibrosis is a charity Lauren holds dearly to her heart, as her aunt passed away from it and Lauren would be a carrier of the gene.

Leah Flahive — Castleview Vet Services, Listowel

Leah was born in Pennsylvania and moved to Ballylongford when she was two. She has two older brothers, a twin brother, and a younger sister.

She was raised in a diverse household, her mother is American, and her father is a proud Kerry man. She and two of her four siblings were adopted.

She is currently a second-year general nursing student in ATU. Caring for animals was an integral part of her childhood, assisting her father in the medical treatment of animals. This exposure led her to pursue a career in nursing. She has a keen interest in working with special needs patients.

Leanne Haussman — Adapt Kerry
Leanne Haussmann is a local Tralee Garda with an avid interest in supporting her community and volunteering with Adapt Kerry. A keen interest in sport, Leanne coaches u14 Tralee Imperials basketball team and plays for St Annes in Farranfore.

An advocate for Asthma Society of Ireland, Leanne walked 100km during Covid raising over €2500. This 26-year-old describes Kerry as the home she chose for herself and has established a wide circle of friends and family in Kerry.

The festival is something she is passionate about, and Leanne has attended multiple Rose events, cheering on friends and even swapped the uniform for a ballgown!

Maud Carmody — Betty McGraths Florist

Born in New York City, Maud’s family moved back home in 2004 to take over the family dairy farm. Maud is a 25-year-old driving instructor from lovely Listowel.

She graduated from Limerick Institute of Technology in 2017 after completing her Automobile Technology course.

Maud has always had a huge passion for cars and machinery. She made the transition from taking the subway in Manhattan to driving her Massey to her school graduation.

She loves being outdoors hiking, kayaking, and helping out on the farm in her spare time. She is currently in the process of obtaining her truck licence.

Michaela Lacey — Walsh Brothers Shoes

Michaela Lacey is from Tralee, Co. Kerry. She is a receptionist / youth worker in Shankill Family Resource Centre. She attended Kilmoyley National School and Causeway Comprehensive School, and has won a gold medal in community games.

Michaela has a certificate in level 5 Social Studies and Psychology. Her hobbies include sketching, reading (fantasy and true crime novels) and listening to pop and country music. She has volunteered in RehabCare Blennerville for two years.

She has helped out in the running of different programs for example: sign language, exercise, and art, and she has received a NRAC (National Regional Advocacy Certificate.)

Niamh Murphy — Camos Bistro

Niamh is 25 from Cahersiveen, a beautiful town in South Kerry. Niamh has studied in a range of colleges such as CCOC and UCC, studying the beauty industry and English and Geography.

She has set goals that will take her out of her comfort zone, one being a skydive for suicide prevention, even though she is afraid of heights.

She is passionate about helping others and has volunteered for many charities like the KDYS and Women’s Aid.

She was selected for Aldi’s customer service advertisements due to her great customer reviews. Niamh has a strong passion for all animals since she was small and has carried that love throughout life.

Roisin O’Sullivan — Mowlam Healthcare

A proud Treaty woman from a small village in Ballingarry, Co. Limerick, Roisin is even prouder to live and work in the kingdom of Kerry.

Working in Killarney nursing home, she absolutely adores her job and her residents have become practically family to her, especially during the pandemic.

Roisin studied nursing in Glasgow Caledonian University (which covid unfortunately interrupted). Roisin is one of six kids – five girls and one boy – so trying to get to the dinner table as a child was a mission in itself!

Roisin loves a good sing-song and has played camogie from the young age of 5 for her local team Grannagh, Ballingarry.

Samantha Stackpoole — University Hospital Kerry

Samantha is a 29-year-old Nurse working in University Hospital Kerry and living in Lixnaw, a village in North Kerry.

Samantha loves her job working as a Clinical Placement Co-Ordinator as her main role is supporting student nurses while on clinical placement.

She holds a Masters in Nursing and spent semester 2 of the college year working as a part-time lecturer in Munster Technological University Tralee. Samantha previously worked in Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital in London.

She is a member of the Lixnaw Community First Responders and the PRO for Lixnaw GAA. She loves supporting Kerry GAA especially the Kerry Hurlers as her brother, Martin is the Kerry goalkeeper.

She absolutely loves fashion and spending time with her family and friends. Samantha adores her little dog, Daisy.

Treasa Ní Bhriain — Techneek

Treasa is a 20-year-old student in her second year of horticulture, which she studies at the Botanic Gardens in Dublin.

In her college, she is a member of the student Council. Currently she is working on an organic farm in Galway. With her interest in native flora and fauna, she would like to meet Collie Ennis, a prominent figure in Ireland’s herpetology society and fellow insect enthusiast.

She loves sci-fi books, horror films and nearly any type of music. When she isn’t gardening, in her free time she enjoys baking and listening to podcasts.

• The Kerry Rose 2022 Selection will take place at Siamsa Tíre on Saturday, June 4.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………