PHOTOS: Meet The Contestants For The Kerry Rose 2016 (Part 1)

There’s 31 contestants is the running for the honour of being selected Kerry Rose 2016 at Ballyroe Heights Hotel tomorrow night. Here’s a little bit about 16 of them (we’ll have the other 15 ladies later)…

ÁINE SHEEHAN SPONSORED BY CABLE O LEARYS BAR & RESTAURANT

Áine is a graduate of C.I.T.  having completed a  BsC  Hons. in Agriculture and is now working in Quality Assurance within SIAC R&C.

The 25 year old from Foilmore has been a member of Comhaltas since a young age and plays an active part in her local branch CCE Barr na Sráide. Áine also enjoys and competes in singing, dancing and music. In addition to her busy lifestyle she is also a member of Whitechurch Macra Na Ferime and plays a key role in organising the many Agricultural events they hold.

In her free time Áine loves to go to the cinema, walking and running and of course the odd bit of shopping!

Continued below…

AISLING HARRINGTON SPONSORED BY KENMARE PLANT HIRE

Aisling Harrington is a hair stylist working in Peter Mark Killarney.

The 23 year old from Kilgarvan is a member of Inbhear Sceine Gaels ladies football club kenmare and represented Kerry Ladies football for 8 years underage.

In 2008 she completed one of her dreams and played in Croke park. Aisling enjoys cycling for charity and recently cycled 600km from Dublin to Paris in aid of breast cancer Ireland.

She has also travelled to Lourdes as a carer with Kerry diocese pilgrimage. She enjoys travelling, keeping active and spending time with family and friends.

AMY REIDY SPONSORED BY THE KERRYMAN

Amy is a 19-year- old student of Irish and Journalism in the University of Limerick and a proud reporter for The Kerryman newspaper.

A member of a musical family, Amy plays the fiddle and banjo and takes part in the occasional sing-song. She has a passion for all things traditional and this year, was appointed East Kerry Scór Officer over 10 GAA clubs in the county, which strives to enhance the Irish culture of music and dance.

Amy has served as PRO and events manager for several local clubs and college committees and has represented her county and province in football, basketball and athletics.

Continued below…

AOIFE DALY SPONSORED BY IPT GROUP 135

Aoife Daly is a 27 year old primary school teacher from Cahersiveen. She is a member of the Irish Pilgrimage Trust Group 135 who travel to Lourdes every Easter. This is a voluntary group so her fellow carers kindly came together to sponsor her.

Aoife takes every opportunity to contribute to her community, she acts as Insurance Officer for her local GAA club, St Marys, coaches the Cahersiveen u12 girls basketball team and is also an Irish Water Safety Instructor, teaching swimming lessons at the local beaches during the summer months.

Aoife is a keen sportsperson and is currently training to take part in the All-Ireland Coastal Rowing Championships.

Continued below…

ASHLEY GUINAN SPONSORED BY DOWN SYNDROME KERRY

Ashley works as an Occupational Therapist with Down Syndrome Kerry and North Kerry Intervention and Disability Service.

The 26 year old from Tralee completed a degree in Sports and Exercise Science and during this time she worked with Special Olympics Ireland.

She has spent time volunteering in an orphanage in Belarus facilitating sports, art and music camps. Ashley furthered her studies by completing a masters in Occupational Therapy.

She enjoys an active lifestyle including running, cardio kickboxing and hill walking. Her ambition is to raise awareness about positive mental health and how this supports a person’s overall wellbeing.

CARLY HOLDEN SPONSORED BY CHOPIN’S CAFÉ

Carly works as a waitress at Chopins Cafe, Tralee and has also completed a special needs course.

The 19 year old from Tralee hopes to one day be able to open her own business dedicated to special needs kids and adults alone. She was a dancer, kick boxer and footballer from a young age.

She was a dancer for ten years before she completed her leaving cert. She enjoyed kickboxing and football as pastimes and helping her fitness during her leaving cert.

She has gold and silver medals for kickboxing & many trophies and titles for dancing. In addition to her hobbies she enjoys keeping up with all the latest beauty trends & going to bingo on a Saturday night.

CARMEL O’LEARY SPONSORED BY KENMARE MART

Carmel lives in the parish of Tuosist, just outside Kenmare, on the Beara Peninsula. The 21 year old is a qualified Dental Nurse after studying two years in Trinity College Dublin.

Her passion lays with Irish Dancing ever since she started at the age of three. After a few years break, she has recently returned to competing bringing back memories from when she won the World Championships in 2006 with her team of eight.

In her spare time, she helps out on the dairy farm that she grew up on. Other interests include walking her sheepdog, socialising with people, taking photographs, reading novels and rowing.

CHRISTINE SHEEHAN SPONSORED BY FEXCO

Christine works as a Customer Service Representative in Fexco Cahirciveen.

The 27 year old from Waterville has a Bachelor of Business in Hospitality Management from Cork Institute of Technology, she also trained as a chef and loves experimenting with recipes.

She likes the outdoors, she’s a keen cyclist, enjoys walks on the beach, hill walking, running, creative writing, travelling and spending time with family and friends.

Last summer Christine cycled the Ring of Kerry ticking an item off her bucket list, other items on her list include walking the Camino and cycling with the Pilgrimage Trust for Lourdes.

CIARA WALSH SPONSORED BY REPUBLIC OF JEWELS

Ciara is a 19 year old Republic of Jewels sales assistant who just completed an Art Portfolio course in Tralee.

A Pandora and Alex and Ani enthusiast, this career is perfect for Ciara. She is from the beautiful seaside resort of Ballybunion – with a world famous golf course on her doorstep.

Ciara is the Brand Ambassador for Alex and Ani and the Visual Merchandiser for the store. Ciara has an alter ego of Anna from the world famous Disney movie ‘Frozen’.

An Anna look-alike, once a year she will dress up as her for a ‘Frozen Fest’ held in JD’s in Ballybunion. Ciara enjoys painting and drawing on her spare time, with the beautiful scenery of Ballybunion to inspire her.

Continued below…

CLODAGH COLLINS SPONSORED BY CHIEF O NEILLS PUB CHICAGO

Clodagh Collins is a University College Cork student studying a Bachelor of Science degree in General Nursing.

The 19 year old from Scartaglen was a member of the Scartaglen G.A.A. Club for eight years. She completed the Toughathlon obstacle race with her team in 2014 and raised money for the Mercy Hospital.

She works part-time as a Healthcare assistant for CPL Healthcare agency. In her spare time, she enjoys socialising with friends, running, swimming and going to Killarney frequently with her family.

CLODAGH O’CONNOR SPONSORED BY GAEL LINN

Clodagh works as a Primary School Teacher in Gaelscoil an Duinnínigh in Dublin.

She volunteers to help with the Simon Community in the capital. The 25-year-old from Castleisland plays gaelic football with Castleisland Desmonds since she was under 8s, and was on the Kerry Ladies football team since the Cailíní Óga in Primary School up to the Kerry minor team; and has also been on the Kerry basketball team.

She enjoys travelling as she travelled from places such as California all the way to New Zealand. During the Summer she works with children with special needs and is a leader for Irish Summer Camps (Ógras).

Clodagh is a qualified lifeguard and teaches the flute after school hours. Since the age of a young girl she always watched the Rose of Tralee and hoped one day she would become the Kerry Rose.

Continued below…

COLLEEN KENNELLY SPONSORED BY CAHILLS SUPER VALU BALLYBUNION

Colleen Kennelly is 20 years old from Ballybunion. She is currently studying Childcare in Tralee.

Colleen works part time in her local Supervalu in Ballybunion and has done so for the past 4 years. She loves working there and gets on great with everyone.

In her spare time Colleen loves to take time out by walking the beach with her two dogs. Also, she loves to read and enjoys a good book. Colleen’s  dream is to go travelling when she finishes college.

The goal is to travel to Dubai and teach English as a foreign language.

DANIELLE O SULLIVAN SPONSORED BY KILLARNEY GRAND

Danielle is currently studying for her masters in human rights law in the University of Limerick, and plans on qualifying as a solicitor when she finishes.

Danielle is an avid sports enthusiast having played gaelic football with Killarney Legion for a number of years, and is also a keen martial artist.

She has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and has represented her county and country successfully both nationally and internationally. The 23 year old from Killarney is passionate about mental health campaigning and is currently the project leader for mental health as part of the US Embassy’s Youth Council.

Continued below…

ILLONA O DONOGHUE SPONSORED BY TRUE NATURAL GOODNESS

Illona is 18 years old and from the town of Killarney.

She is currently doing a 4 year degree programme in Early Childhood Care and Education. She had just completed her first year of the course.

Illona is a member of killarneys Flesk Valley Rowing club and began rowing at the age of 13. She has many interests such as walking, reading, going to the cinema and an interest in cosmetics.

She is currently employed in Park Road Pharmacy in Killarney as an OTC  pharmacy assistant.

LEONIE FLAHERTY SPONSORED BY THE ASHE HOTEL

Leonie Flaherty is a full time Digital Marketing & Social Media student at the Institute of Technology Tralee. The 25 year old from Tralee also works part time as a receptionist and website guru for The Ashe Hotel, and hopes to start up her own Digital Marketing Agency after graduating.

In addition to her work & studies she has taken on many fundraising projects for Palliative Care & The Kerry Hospice. Most recently she was responsible for introducing the worldwide Look Good Feel Better charity to University Hospital Kerry, her proudest achievement to date.

She is also very interested in nutrition & keeping fit and can be found most evenings in the gym. Leonie’s grandmother was the 1969 Tralee Rose and is the reason she took the plunge and applied to be this year’s Kerry Rose.

Continued below…

LINDA BLAKE SPONSORED BY EXCHANGE INN/KEVINS

Linda has an Honours Degree in Applied Social Studies and a Masters in Counselling and Psychotherapy.

The 27 year old from Ballybunion is currently living and working in Dublin. Linda facilities a Nurture Group at Phoenix Park Special School, which plays a pivotal role in aiding children with challenging behaviour.

Linda also works with the Peter McVerry Trust dealing primarily with homelessness and substance abuse. Linda previously undertook a Beauty Therapy Diploma and spent last year working as a Spa Manager onboard a Cruise Ship, traveling the South Pacific Ocean.

Linda’s interests are fitness, partaking in charity runs, travel and all things beauty related. Linda has also spent time abroad working in an orphanage in Surin, Thailand which caters for children who are visually impaired.

WE’LL HAVE MORE ROSE CONTESTANTS LATER