Cork rose Nancy Lehane 'unfazed' by frontrunner status
'I don't take anything from inaccurate information,' laughed Nancy
Nancy hails from Meelin – proudly known as the highest village in Ireland- and said the RoT has been a decades-long tradition in the Lehane family. Rose of Tralee favourite, Nancy Lehane, Cork. Pic: Cork Rose Centre/Instagram
Singer Nancy wowed the audience on Monday night with stunning renditions of The Village on the Hill.
And unbeknownst to Nancy, the song acquired extra special meaning on the actual night. Cork Rose Nancy Lehane. Pic: Rose of Tralee
'I just wanted to sing a song about where I'm from. I suppose it actually turned out to be really poignant, because a man, like a real community man in the village, actually passed during the Rose of Tralee last night. So it was funny that I sang that song.'
The second eldest of five siblings, Nancy also has a massive contingent of extended family who have made the journey to Tralee to see her in all her glory.
'So I started first watching the Rose of Tralee when I was younger. I've 46 cousins on my mother's side so we would all watch it together.' Dáithí Ó Sé and Kathryn Thomas steer the ship at the launch of the 2025 Rose of Tralee International Festival as they meet this year's 32 International Roses. Pic: Andres Poveda
'There's a group of children,13 girls. So every year we meet up at someone's house and watch it together.'
But she never envisioned herself standing on the stage representing her county. Pic: Cork Rose Centre/Instagram
'I really admired the girls on it, but I suppose I didn't think I could be on it myself.'
In fact, Nancy's Rose of Tralee appearance was a matter of happenstance.
'I was trying to apply my boyfriend to be an escort, but when he declined, I said I would.' Dáithí Ó Sé with Meath Rose Ella Bannon, Ottawa Rose Rachel Hoare, Cork Rose Nancy Lehane and Washington D.C. Rose Soracha McGrath. Pic: Domnick Walsh
And as this year's firm favourite, Nancy said she is simply proud of everything she has achieved in the Rose of Tralee.
'I'm not really thinking about it like that [winning]. I'm just very happy with what I've done for myself so far.'
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