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THE NEW ROSE of Tralee has been crowned and the winner is Rachel Duffy from Westmeath.
The 24-year-old is the first winner after the festival returned for the first time since August 2019 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I’m pinching myself now wondering if it just happened,” Duffy said afterwards.
“Having all the Roses around me made it so much more special. I’m so grateful for this honour; it was such an honour to represent my community and my county and now to be the Rose of Tralee is just unbelievable.”
And the 2022 International #RoseofTralee is the Westmeath Rose Rachel Duffy ! Congratulations pic.twitter.com/WExCXT1eEp
— Rose of Tralee (@RoseofTralee_) August 23, 2022
“I never anticipated ending up here, I’m looking forward to the memories I’m going to make. If the last two weeks are anything to go on I know I’m going to make memories to last a lifetime.”
A total of 33 women from communities across Ireland and around the world took part in the 61st Rose of Tralee International Festival which began last Friday
Viewers tuned in from countries including Turkey, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia to see Duffy be presented with her sash by the 2019 Rose of Tralee Dr Sinead Flanagan, becoming the first Rose representing Westmeath to take the title.
From the small village of Rosemount in the Lake County, Duffy graduated from NUIG with an Undergraduate Degree in Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies and Spanish last year.
She is currently working in P Egan’s Traditional Irish Bar in Moate, and plans to return to university to complete a Master’s Degree to be a Spanish and English teacher.
RTÉ’s Dáithí Ó Sé made the announcement live from Kerry Sports Academy at Munster Technological University.
Duffy will now be presented to the town of Tralee in front of the thousands of people that have lined out for the Midnight Madness fireworks display.
As part of her reign, Duffy wins a package that includes a €25,000 travel prize and “home away from home” complimentary accommodation at Tralee’s four star Meadowlands Hotel throughout the year.
Last year, ahead of nominations for its latest iteration, organisers announced that married and trans women could take part in the festival.
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time to re-introduce smoking in pubs so..
Am I missing something here ( simple ::::: don’t smoke:::::: ) , if u do u should accept the consequences….
You’re missing a whole rake of somethings. Of course not smoking would be the best way to avoid the associated risks, but surely you’re no suggesting that we don’t attempt to find ways of dealing with the consequences of smoking?
If everyone shared that attitude no scientific or medical breakthroughs would ever be made.
Tax the filthy things out of existence I say.
That’s it… I’m back on the fags.
Lovely fags. Glad I quit them though I was starting to wheeze going up stairs. Miss them but if I go back on them I will be going back to crappy lungs and feeling sorry for myself. I do recommend the 4 D’s method it helped me to quit. Ash Wednesday tomorrow so try the old quit something for lent you never know it could work!
@human being, well done to you!! Sorry for my ignorance but what is 4 D’s??
You know willy giving your self a pat on the back does not count for a positive comment.
I am not a smoker and I am in no position to tel any one how to live ther lives, but if people want to, or need to smoke it’s there money like ever one elce who jumps from a plain or goes TT racing the risks are there two and the hart ache and bills when things go wrong. But its the likes of you and Paul and your selfrightous, no it all bull that turns my stomach!
Both of my parents died early through smoking-related effects, so it grieves me to see teenagers starting to smoke. Still, at that age they’re going to live for ever, aren’t they?
Bans and high taxes have a limited effect. The only way is to somehow make smoking seem very uncool. Any ideas?
The new treatment is call Stop Smoking Now
have your say