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Kerry Rose, Danielle O’Sullivan.
THE Rose of Tralee Festival is less than two weeks away now and the 64 Roses who will be joining our own Kerry Rose, Danielle O’Sullivan in Kerry, must be getting excited.
For some of them though, it will be a sort of homecoming, as a number have close links to Kerry. Some have been born and bred here, others have parents from Kerry, for others it’s more distant, but they’ll all feel at home when they arrive at the start of the Festival on Tuesday, August 16.
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Luxembourg Rose – Sile Reidy
Síle Reidy will be coming home in August as the Luxembourg Rose. The 20 year old is Ballymac born and bred and of course, grew up with the festival, the Rose Parade and watching the selection on the telly. She’ll have some support during the week!
New York Rose – Kristin Stack
Kristin Stack is the New York Rose and her mother hails from the Tralee area, while her father is from just over the border in Athea, Co Limerick. The 26 year old is sure to have huge support and will know her way around, as she goes back to Ireland twice a year to spend time with her family.
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Ottawa Rose – Sarah Griffin
Sarah Griffin is the Ottawa Rose and part of her roots stem from Ardfert. She’s no stranger to Kerry as just last autumn she compete at the 2015 All Ireland Irish dance championships in Killarney.
Queensland Rose – Jess Logan
Queensland Rose Jessica Logan’s Irish ancestry is from her father’s family, who emigrated from Leitrim Tipperary and Kerry. The 27 year old said she’s looking forward to visiting this month.
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Texas – Katherine O’Sullivan
Katherine O’Sullivan is the Texas Rose and has even closer ties to Kerry. The 25 years old from Austin claims paternal grandparents from Tralee and Ballyduff, her mother’s side is from Macroom.
Westmeath Rose – Niamh Moriarty
Westmeath Rose, Niamh Moriarty’s father is originally from Lisnagree, in west Kerry. She has many happy childhood memories of the Rose of Tralee Festival as each summer their family holiday was planned around the Rose of Tralee events. She remembers sunny days on Banna beach, visits to the Tralee town park, the Rose parade and midnight madness to name but a few.
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Cork Rose Denise Collins.
Denise Collins is the Cork Rose but from her biog it looks like she’s half-Kerry.
She’s from Knocknagree on the Cork/Kerry border and says she’s from a family of seven, four of whom support Cork and three support Kerry. But she doesn’t say where her allegiances lie!
Her mother Margaret is a nurse in Millstreet and father Pat has an architectural office in Killarney. She went to Hollymount Primary School on the Cork side of the border and Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra, Rathmore, on the Kerry side of the border.
She’s captain of the Knocknagree Ladies football team this year and as a child was successful for Gneeveguilla Athletics Club in Kerry, winning many county and Munster titles and one All-Ireland for sprinting. She also trained as a lifeguard at 15 and spent her summers as a lifeguard in Killarney for six years. I’d say we can claim her!
