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Rose of Tralee 2022 Rachel Duffy in the Rose Garden on Wednesday morning. Photo by Dermot Crean
THERE might not have been much sleep had, but that comes with the territory for the new Rose of Tralee as she posed for photographers at the traditional Rose Garden photoshoot in the Town Park on Wednesday morning.
Rachel Duffy from Rosemount in Westmeath had an early start with an interviews on RTE Radio 1 and Radio Kerry before heading to the Park where she met local and national media representatives, who asked her how she was feeling the morning after the night before.
“I’m tired, I’m still a little bit shocked. I think I’m only starting to realise now what an amazing year I’m about to have, how special an opportunity this is and what a privilege it is,” said Rachel.
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“When I look around here now, I find it hard to believe all these people are here for me. The other girls were just amazing and each and every one of them are just as worthy of this sash,” she added.
Rachel was very emotional on stage last night as she spoke about her mother who passed away when she was just nine years old.
“I would have struggled to talk about my mam growing up. I was only nine when she passed away and it’s only now when you put into perspective how young that was. My Rosebud Fiadh is nine, and I look at her and think how did I go through that at that age and come so far.”
Rose of Tralee 2022 Rachel Duffy in the Rose Garden on Wednesday morning with her Rosebud Fiadh Gallahue. Photo by Dermot Crean
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“That’s why I think it is so important to talk about these things, just in terms of mental health. It’s only in the past few years I’ve become more comfortable talking about my mam and definitely the more I talk about her, the closer to her I feel,” she said.
Rachel said she hopes to be good role model for young girls.
“As someone who grew up in a single-parent home, without my mom, I always felt I was lacking that strong female role model in my life. If I could be a role model for young girls, I would hope I could do that justice. I want to show young girls it’s not about what you have but how you act as a person and how you treat other people.”
“I would have struggled with my confidence growing up and one of the reasons I entered the Westmeath Rose contest was to challenge myself and push myself. Some of the things I’ve done in the past two weeks, if you had asked me to do them six months ago I would have said ‘no way’,” she added.
Rose of Tralee 2022 Rachel Duffy with little Chloe Henson and Una Hughes from Moate in the Rose Garden on Wednesday morning. Photo by Dermot Crean
Rachel also spoke about the welcome she received in Tralee and Kerry since she arrived last week.
“Kerry people are just great, they’s so sound, such good craic and gave us such a welcome. All the Roses and our families have been treated so well by the people of Kerry. The hospitality has been absolutely brilliant.
“After COVID, communities and towns need this buzz, we need people to be able to connect, we need to travel and experience things that are inherently Irish like the Rose of Tralee. The Festival brings out the best in Irish people and it’s been absolutely amazing,” she added before being whisked away for a number of engagements today.
Rose of Tralee 2022 Rachel Duffy with Olivia Crean in the Rose Garden on Wednesday morning. Photo by Dermot Crean
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