My name is Dervla Dolan, I'm 25, and I am delighted to be representing the diverse city of Melbourne and its massive Irish community at the 2024 Rose of Tralee International Festival.
I am both a primary and secondary school teacher, specialising in the subject of History. Teaching in Melbourne has been a great learning experience, allowing me to meet children from all over the world. I am constantly learning about their different cultures and traditions, whilst proudly sharing my own.
I hail from the village of Killyclogher in the county of Tyrone and made the move to Melbourne in 2022. I come from a family very involved in running and I have completed 13 half-marathons and one full marathon.
Upon moving to Melbourne, I established my own running community called Run for Enda, in memory of my brother. This initiative has enabled over 100 people to train for and complete a half marathon, making me a very proud coach! Our endeavours also raised a substantial amount of money for The Kevin Bell Trust, a charity very important for all of us living overseas.
I am very excited to make the journey home as the Melbourne Rose!
