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The Roses Of 1998 Catch Up After 20 Years

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Some of the 1998 Rose of Tralee contestants gathered outside Maddens on Milk Market Lane, with Alison Kelliher (second left) and Aine Kelliher (fifth from left). The former Roses are, from left; Emilia Cirkur (Washington DC), Frances Carley (Dublin), Orla Cusack (Waterford), Liz Gavin (Belgium), Caroline Wilson (Texas), Katie McMahon (New York), Joanna Halloran (South Wales), Siobhan McMahon (Leeds), Rebekah Wall (Kerry) and Emma Hyland (Midlands UK). Photo by Dermot Crean

THE Rose of Tralee festival has always been an opportunity for former Roses to come back to town to relive some wonderful memories.

This was certainly the case for many of the 1998 contestants who gathered over the weekend to look back on what for many was a life-changing experience.

We caught up with them at Maddens on Milk Market Lane on Friday last where we found out the Kerry Rose of 1998, Rebekah Wall from Tralee, was one of the ladies behind the reunion.

Continued below…

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“Liz Gavin, the Belgium Rose, Orla Cusack of Waterford and Katie McMahon the New York Rose and I were chatting about meeting together again. So we decided to meet not only for a reunion, but also about possibly developing an organisation for past Roses who want to cross-collaborate in business. All these women here are really accomplished in business,” said Rebekah.

Over 20 of the 32 Roses returned and remarkably,  two of the Roses just found out at the reunion that they live a five minute drive from each other 0ver in the US.

The Leeds Rose Siobhan McMahon (nee Harrington) ended up marrying the New York Rose, Katie McMahon’s brother after meeting at the Festival and they now live in Northern Virginia, just minutes away from Washington DC Rose, Emilia Cirkur’s home.

“It’s great to see them all come back,” said Rebekah, who is confident that there will be a business run by former Roses, based in Madden’s, set up before the end of the year.