In an exclusive interview with RTÉ TEN Dáithí Ó Sé revealed that the judges have a “really, really tough decision on their hands” to pick the winner of this year’s Rose of Tralee competition – and after studying their impressive biographies we don’t blame him! As preparations get underway for Ireland's biggest pageant we take a look at the interests close to the hearts of the 32 beautiful roses.
Check out the 32 beautiful Roses here in our Rose of Tralee Gallery:
BIG APPLE – CAITLIN McNEILL:Caitlin (22) recently graduated from St Joseph's College in New York with a degree, Summa Cum Laude, in Child Study (General Education and Special Education) and Speech-Language Pathology. She plans to attend graduate school this year to pursue a Masters in Speech-Language Pathology. Over the past five years, she has been dedicated to helping educate young people in New York City. Caitlin can trace her Irish ancestry back to her great grandparents who were from counties Mayo and Cork.
BOSTON & NEW ENGLAND – MOIRA SULLIVAN:Moira works as a business consultant in Boston and will be starting a Masters in Finance at Trinity College Dublin this autumn. The 24-year old was born and raised in Alaska and is an honours graduate of Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, where she majored in European History. She plays half-forward for the Boston Shamrocks Ladies GAA club, the reigning ladies football champions of New England. Moira can trace her Irish heritage back to her great grandparents who were from Cork and Tipperary.
CHICAGO – SIOBHAN CARROLL: Siobhan (26) is currently studying for a Masters degree in Education and plans to work as a student maths teacher when she graduates later this year. She also has a degree from Indiana University in Psychology & Sociology. She is a member of the Irish American Heritage Centre and the Young Irish Fellowship Club of Chicago and is involved in various activities with them. Siobhan was born in Las Vegas as she is the daughter of showband star Frankie Carroll of The Royal Showband with Brendan Boywer.
CORK – KATHRYN BRENNAN: Kathryn (25) has been working as a primary school teacher for the past four years after graduating with a degree in Education & Arts, and hopes to further her teaching qualifications by completing a Masters. She plays football and basketball with her local teams in Glanmire and also trains the basketball team at her school. Whilst teaching in Oman she was selected Ladies Footballer of the Year, and has also been voted Student of the Year, won three Irish scholarships and was presented with Gradam na Gaelige in 2004.
The only way is up for Dáithí Ó Sé who is presenting this year's Rose of Tralee.
DERBY – NIAMH Mc TAGUE: Niamh is a registered Dietitian working at the Royal Derby Hospital. She graduated from the University of Nottingham in 2010 with a Master of Nutrition/Dietetics and would like to specialize as an oncology dietitian in the future. The 22-year-old is originally from Ballymoe, Co Galway and completed her secondary school education at Castlerea Community School, Co Roscommon. Niamh was born in Co Galway and her parents are both from Co Leitrim.
DERRY – CATHERINE FEENEY: Catherine works as a physiotherapist for the Northern Health and Social Care Trust after obtaining a degree in Physiotheraphy from the University of Ulster. The 27-year-old is actively involved with the Foyle Down’s Syndrome Trust and the charity Habitat for Humanity. She has been the physio for her local GAA team for the past four years, and also loves music, dancing, yoga and reading. She used to play the accordion and tenor horn and used to dance in Debra Magee’s dance school where the Belfast Giant cheerleaders trained.
DONEGAL – MARIA McCOLE: Maria works as a primary school teacher after graduating with an honours degree in Primary School Teaching with Geography from Liverpool Hope University. In addition to mainstream teaching, the 23-year-old is also interested in broadening her horizons through working with children with special needs. She has worked alongside family members with various charity initiatives in Donegal, and has been playing Gaelic football for fourteen years, representing Donegal at U-16 level.
DOWN – NICOLE CURRAN: Nicole is an Accountancy and Finance student at John Moore’s University in Liverpool, and is currently on a one year placement with Norbrook Laboratories in Newry as she hopes to pursue a career in accountancy when she graduates. The 22-year-old has played Camogie for her home club Clonduff and also represented her county, earning an Ulster medal and the privilege of playing in the All-Ireland semi-finals. Throughout her childhood, Nicole sang in all Feis and Scór Na nOg competitions and now sings at weddings and other special occasions.
Could Dáithí be showing the roses how to Riverdance?
DUBAI – GRÁINNE BOYLE: Gráinne has been working as a special needs teacher for the British Institute for Learning Development in Dubai for the past two years. She has a degree in Psychology from the National University of Ireland, Galway and a postgraduate diploma in Primary Education from Coláiste Phádraig, Drumcondra. The 24-year-old always wanted to train as an Educational Psychologist and was delighted to recently be accepted to study a Masters in Educational Psychology, and will return to university in Autumn 2011.
DUBLIN – SIOBHÉAL NIC EOCHAIDH: Siobhéal (22) is a full-time student at the National University of Ireland Maynooth where she has just completed a degree in Media Studies and an Nua-Ghaeilge, and plans to return to Maynooth next year to study a Masters in Irish. She has achieved student of the year, has been a talent show winner, played the lead role in a school production of Fame and been nominated for Irish language awards whilst at school. In the future she hopes to secure a job that combines her love of media and Irish, such as presenting or newsreading.
EDMONTON - TARA KEIGHER: Tara currently works as a certified health unit co-ordinator at the Surrey Memorial Hospital in British Columbia, working to gain enough hours to become a permanent member of staff there. The 23-year-old graduated from university last year, and plans to return to her studies to achieve a diploma in Technology specialising in maternal ultrasound. Tara volunteers with her local humane society working with dogs awaiting adoption. Tara can trace her Irish heritage back to her grandparents who are from Dublin and Roscommon.
GERMANY – SAOIRSE FITZGERALD: Saoirse works as a marketing executive for Enterprise Ireland in Dusseldorf, helping develop and support Irish companies exporting overseas. The 25-year-old is responsible for media and internet companies targeting German speaking markets, after obtaining a degree in Commerce & German from University College Cork, including a year at Vienna University, and a MBS in Marketing from the Michael Smurfit School of Business in Dublin. She was born in Cork, and both her parents are from Waterford.
Dáithí managed to loose his shoes with all the excitment over this year's Rose of Tralee Festival.
KERRY – SÍLE NÍ DHEARGAIN: Síle (26) works as an art teacher (múinteoir ealaín) at Ennis Community College (Gaelcoláiste an Chlár) after graduating in Graphic Design from the Limerick School of Art & Design and completing an H.Dip in Art & Design Education. She is very passionate about currach rowing and has been rowing for eleven years including one year spent with the Boston rowing club. The Dingle native recently completed her first five-mile race in Killarney, has climbed Carrantwohill for Cancer Research, loves walking on the Dingle peninsula.
LAOIS – SINEAD FENNELL: Sinead is studying at Dublin City University in her third year of a General Nursing degree. The 21-year-old hopes to specialise eventually in the areas of A&E and intensive care, but is open to what the future holds for her when she graduates. She is a member of Graiguecullen youth choir and regularly helps out in the parish centre. Sinead likes horses, watching musicals, hockey, Italian food and skyping her friends in England and Scotland. She was involved in the youth parliament whilst at school and was a Meitheal leader (or buddy) to a first year whilst in her final year.
LONDON – CAROLINE MARLEY: Caroline (25) works as a financial analyst in London after obtaining a first class honors degree from the University of Ulster and a Masters from the Michael Smurfit Business School. She currently works for First Derivatives and is on secondment in the RBS Non Core Bank which is actively aiming to restore the bank to stand alone strength. She is a member of the RBS reading and numbers programme where she visits a primary school once a week to assist pupils with their numeracy and reading skills.
NEW YORK – ERIN LOUGHRAN: Erin (22) and her family are heavily involved with traditional Irish Music and Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann where Erin is the Youth Officer for North America and has several All-Ireland medals for fiddle playing. She visits Ireland regularly and is as much as home here as she is in Pearl River, New York. She attended University of Limerick's Irish World Academy of Music and Dance for four years, graduating with honours last August. Erin's father is from Pomeroy, Co Tyrone and her grandparents are from Moyvane and Asdee in Co Kerry.
It must be a hard life being surrounded by 32 beautiful women, but Dáithí seems to be coping well.
NEW ZEALAND – AILBHE RYAN: Ailbhe (26) works as a customer service consultant for an insurance company in Wellington after completing a Masters degree in International Relations from Dublin City Unversity and a degree in History and Politics from University College Dublin. She completed her Master’s thesis on the Arab-Israeli conflict and travelled to the region to meet with political and human rights groups on both sides. . She has travelled throughout Europe, North America, South America and The Balkans. When she was a little girl she visited Tralee for the festival and went to the Rose Garden to get the Roses’ autographs. . Ailbhe’s mother is from Co Cavan and her father from Tralee, Co Kerry.
OTTAWA – KATE SCOTT: Kate recently completed a degree in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences at the University of Ottawa and is working as an assistant at the government offices of Statistics Canada. The 22-year-old plans to continue with her studies by specialising in alternative/complementary medicine and obtain a doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine. Eventually she would like to open a private practice offering an interdisciplinary approach to achieving and maintaining health. Kate has won awards for dancing, harp and voice, and was awarded the title best young composer for a piece she wrote commemorating the events of 11th September 2001. She can trace her Irish heritage back to her great great grandmother who was from Corkstown in Co Tyrone.
PERTH – MELANIE GORE: Melanie works as a teacher of Health & Physical Education at St Norbert’s College in Perth after graduating with a degree in Sports Science and a graduate diploma in Secondary Education. The 25-year-old has been a member of her local Irish dancing community for over twenty years and a student of the WA Academy of Irish Dancing, attending state, national and world competitions, where she was state champion many times and in the top five at the national competition for thirteen years. Teaching at high school, she can focus on skill development and see the results of her hard work at a school that has an amazing sense of community. Melanie can trace her Irish heritage to her grandparents who are from Douglas and Glanmire in Co Cork.
PHILADELPHIA – BETH KEELEY: Beth (25) currently works as a web content coordinator but is returning to school next year to earn a Masters degree in Broadcasting, Telecommunications & Mass Media and plans to study cyberbullying amongst young users of social networking sites with a view to implementing educational programs on safe use of these sites. She is a member of the Irish Anti-Defamation Federation, an organization that works to eliminate Irish stereotypes and promote Irish cultural education in Philadelphia. She currently hosts a Beatles-themed radio show with her father, is a freelance writer, and hosts fundraiser events for the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society. Beth is still researching her Irish ancestry but so far can trace it back to Mayo and Donegal.
QUEENSLAND – TARA TALBOT: Tara (27) is a secondary school teacher and is also studying for a Masters in Marketing, after graduating with a degree in English & History from the University of Queensland. She ultimately plans to work in marketing for the not-for-profit sector. Tara is a member of the Queensland Irish Association, plays mixed touch football, follows rugby and plans to travel to New Zealand for the rugby world cup, soccer as she is an avid Liverpool FC fan, and has represented Queensland at national level in athletics when she was younger. Tara was born in Dublin and moved to Australia when she was five-years-old, returning to live between Dublin and Galway for three years in 2006. Tara’s father is from Dublin and her mother is from the Philippines.
ROSCOMMON – RÓISÍN GUIHEN: Róisín is studying Chemistry at The Institute of Education and is also taking an evening course in Neuroscience at Trinity College to prepare for a return to college to study Medicine as she hopes eventually to become a doctor. The 19-year-old is currently working at Shakes Milkshake Bar to fund her year living in Dublin. She was the 2009 winner of the Soroptomist All Ireland Public Speaking competition, and is currently involved in the Croí na Tire volunteer project in St James' Hospital, Dublin which provides voluntary services and non-clinical support to elderly patients. She enjoys swimming, singing, surfing in Sligo and playing the piano, and is a great supporter of Roscommon GAA. A sports enthusiast, Róisín played for the basketball and football teams whilst at school in Colaiste Ide in Dingle, Co Kerry where she also won Student of the Year.
SAN FRANCISCO – SHEILA ASHTIANI: Sheila is currently studying at San Francisco State University for a degree in Nursing and hopes to fulfil a lifelong dream of becoming a midwife. The 20-year-old is a member of California Community College’s academic fraternity Phi Theta Kappa which recognises students who maintain high grades and a commitment to studying. She has been competing in Irish dancing competitions since the age of seven, and also enjoys running, spending time with family and friends, cheering on her favourite baseball team the San Francisco Giants, and volunteering at her local hospital. She regularly takes part in the San Francisco Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and tries not to take life for granted. Sheila’s mother is from Derry.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA – SUSAN GELLARD: Susan works as an accountant after graduating from the University of South Australia with a degree in Commerce, and an advanced diploma of Accounting at Tafe SA. As a child, the 27-year-old went to school in England, Israel, Texas and Adelaide, South Australia, due to her father being in the Royal Australian Airforce, and she can count to ten in five languages. She enjoys going to the gym, cooking desserts, travelling, socialising and body boarding, and learnt to surf in the freezing cold waters of Ireland! Whilst at university she volunteered regularly at the local animal shelter as she loves dogs and would like to one day train guide dog puppies.
It looks like Dáithí may need a third arm to carry all those roses.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA – MOLLY O’KEEFE: Molly is producer/creative executive for filmmaker Roger Kumble and just produced his play, Girls Talk, starring Brooke Shields. She was also associate producer of Summit Entertainment's Furry Vengeance. The 27-year-old has a degree in Television & Video Production from Emerson College (Boston, MA) and spent a summer studying at NUI Galway. She is a member of the Los Angeles Triathlon Team, Lionsgate Triathlon Team and Masters Swim Team. She has completed the Los Angeles half marathon and the San Diego Marathon. By the end of 2011, Molly hopes to finish her first screenplay and start writing more regularly in addition to producing. She can trace her Irish heritage back to her father’s parents who are both from Co Kerry.
SUNDERLAND – NIAMH O CONNELL: Niamh is a full time student at Sunderland University studying for a Masters in Pharmacy and hopes to pursue a career in either hospital or industry, in the aseptic unit of a hospital or lab. The 20-year-old is captain of the University of Sunderland Woman’s first team and president of the university hockey club. Sport has always been a huge part of her life and helped her win sports girl of the year at secondary school. She intends to play ladies football with her local GAA club in Newcastle in the summer and has represented both her county and province in both hockey and camogie at various underage levels.
SYDNEY – CAROLINE HARNEY:Caroline (27) works as a primary school teacher after obtaining a Masters degree in Teaching and a degree in Performing Arts both from the University of Western Sydney. Teaching allows her to be a lifelong learner, as well as indulging in her passion for performing arts, teaching singing and dancing to children in the evenings. She is particularly passionate about helping disadvantaged children and has spent time in remote areas of the Northern Territory working with Indigenous Australians. She comes from a family of great Roscommon footballers, including her uncles, the late Lieutenant-General Dermot Earley, former Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces and Paul Earley who was one of the first Gaelic players to be recruited to the Australian Football League.
TEXAS – DANIELLE YBARRA: Danielle is a domestic trade operations analyst at Fidelity Investments in Fort Worth Texas after graduating from the University of North Texas with a degree in International Studies with a focus on Latin & South American studies, graduating magna cum laude. The 25-year-old looks forward to travelling to Castleisland, County Kerry during the summer and has been every year since she was a child to visit her mother's hometown, family and friends. Her love of dance stems from winning a prize of dance lessons which trained her to dance various Latin, ballroom, swing and country/western dances. Danielle’s mother is from Castleisland in Co Kerry.
Who knew there were so many shades of red?
TIPPERARY – NOIRÍN RYAN: Noirín is a qualified occupational therapist and has just started her first job at St Dympna’s Hospital in Carlow. She hopes to become a clinical specialist in the area of Paediatrics but is open to where her new career may take her. The 24-year-old is a member of her local camogie club and the Tipperary intermediates, was captain of the county winning team last year, and is training the club’s under-12 team this year. She plays the guitar and piano, sings in the parish choir, won the 2010 Munster Solo Singing Final of Scór Sinsear, and is a member of Macre na Feirme where she has represented Tipperary South at the Queen of the Land Festival.
TORONTO – AILEEN DOYLE: Aileen works as a Communications Coordinator for the organization Journalists for Human Rights. The 25-five-year old is fluent in French and has completed a bilingual Political Science degree at the University of Ottawa. While in University, she spent a year studying at the Institut d’Etudes Politiques in Aix-en-Provence, France, where she also worked as a language assistant with the French Ministry of Education. She has won singing competitions, performed in many plays and theatre productions and also enjoys film acting. Future goals and ambitions include writing a novel, travelling to every continent, pursuing her dreams of performing and learning Spanish. Aileen’s father is from Dublin and her mother is from County Clare.
WASHINGTON DC – DOROTHY HENGGELER: Dorothy works as a communications coordinator for T Rowe Price since she graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Communication, and enjoys as part of her job coming up with different strategies to reach out to people. The 25-year-old volunteers with the Make-A–Wish charity, and belongs to the Baltimore City Kickball League as well as the T Rowe Price softball league. She is a huge GAA and American football fan, supporting the Dr Crokes and the Kerry team, as her mother is from Kerry, and she enjoys attending Munster finals in the county when she can.
WEXFORD – MARY KEHOE: Mary works as a primary school teacher in Ballycanew National School in Wexford. The 26-year-old has a degree in Computer Aided Manufacturing Engineering, and postgraduate diplomas in both Advanced Engineering and in Education. She loves many sports such as football, hurling and badminton, has a particular love for softball, and was awarded a Sports Scholarship for softball and an Engineering Scholarship during her time in college. Mary is a member of a Limerick Softball team who are the All Ireland Club Champions and will represent Ireland at the European Club Championships in the Czech Republic this Summer.
