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FORMER ROSE OF Tralee winner Maria Walsh has formally been added to the Fine Gael ticket for the European elections in Midlands-North West, alongside MEP Mairead McGuinness.
Walsh, who was born in Boston and raised along the Mayo-Galway border in Shrule, was crowned the Rose of Tralee in 2014 – becoming the first gay woman to do so.
Accepting the nomination, she thanked Ministers Michael Ring and Joe McHugh for proposing and seconding her nomination.
She described Mairead McGuinness as an inspirational role model for younger women with political aspirations.
“25 years ago this very summer, a seven-year-old Irish American girl moved from Boston with her Irish parents and her siblings back to the West of Ireland, a place which had shaped her parents before her and has been central to shaping the perspectives of a young woman who now stands proudly before you this evening,”she said.
As 31-year-old woman she said she is to be the youngest member of the party running in the European Elections.
Walsh told the crowd this evening that she is self-employed as a media and event consultant, and this year she celebrates her 20th anniversary of being a Pioneer.
“Of course, many of you know me as the Boston girl living in Philadelphia who won the Rose of Tralee five years ago and while I am so much more, having the opportunity to fulfil that significant ambassadorial role was a wonderful and unforgettable chapter in my life,” she said.
Walsh said she is passionate about mental health, diversity, inclusion, women’s rights and working to improve young people’s lives.
“Yes, I am new to party politics but my rich and diverse experiences have served as my apprenticeship. I now want to be a strong and effective voice for you, this constituency and Ireland in Europe and work hard to find the best solutions to the most difficult of problems,” she said.
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I suppose it’s difficult to know whether the state is correct or not in turning of the life support equipment. Obviously each case is different and you have to wonder if it is right to have the child in horrendous pain and suffering just so the family can live in hope. I really feel sorry for this poor family.
Doctor told me, you have six months to live, seven months later. Still breathing….
@Karl Doran: continued breathing to you Karl. People beat predictions all the time.
Heart breaking for mum and dad. I don’t know how I would cope.
I see his little face,and I want to cry.As a parent I can only imagine what his family are feeling.My instinct would tell me to fight with my life for him.But in the end what life will he have in the future.I hope for a miracle.I truly do.
What exactly is the issue in allowing the parents to transfer their child to the hospital in Rome?
State is becoming too involved in these types of decisions…
@Jimmy Ryan: The state is probably picking up the tab. Do you remember the manhunt for the family that ended up having to kidnap their child from a UK hospital to bring them to France I believe for proton therapy to try cure cancer. The hospital wouldnt let them, they were happy to leave the child die.
@Jimmy Ryan: The clinicians from Rome have agreed with Alder Hey’s prognosis and have not offered a treatment solution for Alfie. They have offered to take him to their hospital but agree there is nothing they can do to help or improve his condition. Looks like it will prolong his suffering.
Heartbreaking. In such a scenario there are no winners.
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