New Kerry Rose Laura Daly decided she would run for selection while helping out at last year's contest
Ballymacelligott native Laura Daly (23) said she has 'grown up' with the Rose of Tralee and spent years helping to organise events that surround the festival
Kerryman
If things begin to run off the rails at this year's Rose of Tralee Festival then the newly selected Kerry representative will be well equipped to jump in and save the day.
Ballymacelligott native Laura Daly (23), who was chosen to represent her county at the Kerry Rose Selection Night in Killarney on Saturday, has such experience in participating in and organising the Rose festival that she may possess an insight into its workings like few contestants before her.
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'I wasn't really thinking about it (winning) because it was a very long night and we were probably a bit tired at that stage, and I wasn't sure whose name would be called out, but I was not expecting mine,' she said. 'I was just like 'oh my God, I can't believe it,'' she added. Ms Lehane has been busy since receiving the sash, and she said it is an 'honour to represent Cork as a whole.' 'I really want to get around as much of Cork as I can because, I remember a lot of people telling me from home that I'm the Cork Rose, not the Meelin Rose, and we are a very clannish-based group up here. 'It is an honour to represent Cork as a whole and with it being such a big county,' she said. Ms Lehane tried to sign her boyfriend up as an escort, as she thought 'I should get him to do that'. He said 'not in a million years' but Ms Lehane decided to sign herself up for the Rose selection in protest. 'I was just on the phone to him one night and he was saying that an escorting ad popped up on his phone as we were talking, and I was thinking 'I should get him to do that.' 'So, I started applying for him and I asked him all the questions subtly to fill in the form, and when it came to his references, and I had to ask, 'what is your employer's phone number?' He was like 'what are you doing?'' she laughed. 'He knew then and said 'not in a million years' so I said I would enter as the Rose if you won't enter as an escort. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more 'I think as it was getting closer (to the Cork Rose selection), I was saying 'it's too late now, you made your decision,' she laughed. The primary school teacher said there were plenty of celebrations across Meelin, known as the highest village in Ireland. 'We had plenty of celebrations. We had a guard of honour on the Monday and last weekend with the match, there was a big crowd out as well. 'We had a gathering festival in the next parish over in Rockchapel, so I was at that all weekend doing different things. 'I was a special guest for a three counties rivalry variety show, and I was part of the Cork-based clan for that,' she added. The Rose of Tralee International Festival means a lot to Ms Lehane, as the start of the festival would usually signal a trip across the Cork border into Waterford to watch the spectacle alongside some of her cousins. 'My mom is from quite a big family; I have 48 first cousins on my mother's side but the majority of them would be based in Waterford. 'So, there's a group of 10-12 girl cousins who would have always met up in Waterford to watch it (Rose of Tralee) every year together. 'We have always said to each other 'who will be the first Rose?' 'It would be cool if we had a Cork Rose and a Waterford Rose in the same year. 'Hopefully they will get inspired and go for the Waterford Rose in the future, there are enough of them,' she laughed. Looking back on the six weeks before the selection night, Ms Lehane said there was a 'friendly rapport' between the contestants. 'There was definitely a great friend rapport and everyone was there for each other. 'We were all in the same boat at the end of the day and there was no point not being friendly with each other, or having a rivalry because none of us knew who was going to win it. 'Everybody had a very impressive story on stage or an act and none of us had a clue who was going to win it,' she said. Galway Bay FM's Head of Sport and Fine Gael Councillor Ollie Turner was the host on the night and Ms Lehane said he was 'brilliant'. 'I remember chatting about this to my family - all the supporters, obviously they are there to hear everyone, but they are mostly there for their family member or friend that they are supporting. 'He (Ollie) made the night very enjoyable for the supporters, as it was a long evening, but he was also very easy to talk to, even when you got stuck, he would brush over it and no one would even notice that you were struggling with a question,' she said. The Cork Rose Centre is 'on the ball' since Ms Lehane received the sash. 'It's great to have the Cork Rose Centre, that is so well established, and they are on the ball with everything because it would be very hard to prepare for that (The Rose of Tralee) by yourself. 'They have been very, very, very helpful so far,' she added. Ms Lehane will represent the Rebel county in Tralee from August 15 to 19.
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