‘It's a similar sense of sisterhood' – how Rose of Tralee 2025 could be compared to America's ‘sorority rush season'

Irish Independent

12 hours ago

Eighteen Roses took to the stage in Co Kerry last night for the first of two nights before the 2025 winner is crowned, but behind the scenes, they were forming friendships for life.
Philadelphia Rose Shannon Emery (26), who was a member of the Kappa Delta sorority at Westchester University, said she feels a 'similar sense of sisterhood' during her time at the Rose of Tralee.
'I do feel it's a similar sense of sisterhood, but it's an Irish sisterhood, instead of whatever Greek organisation you're in. So it's kind of extra special that way,' she said after coming off the stage at the first rehearsal before the selection night yesterday.
Not only have videos of American sororities, hailed as 'RushTok', been blowing up on social media, but the famous Kerry festival has also occupied our feeds on this side of the Atlantic.
Ms Emery said she was 'excited' and 'ready' for the first selection night. She added: 'A lot of nerves and feelings and emotions are coming up, because it's kind of the end as well, but I'm excited.'
'It's been amazing working with these other 32 women and bonding with them.'
Meanwhile, the residents of Ireland's highest village, Meelin, and some of Nancy Lehane's 48 cousins are expected to show up at MTU's Sport Academy to support the Cork Rose (22), who is tipped as favourite to win the Rose of Tralee title.
When asked whether any pressure comes with that, she said she 'doesn't really think about it'.
'The girls are absolutely lovely. Great craic. We're having so much fun,' she said.
'It's very full-on for us to be doing every day, but being there for each other, we've become very close in a very short space of time.'
The highlight of being the Cork Rose for Ms Lehane was to see the 'excitement it brings to people' closest to her. 'The parades were amazing, just going up and seeing everyone so excited, my family and friends,' she said.
Kerry Rose Laura Daly (23), from Ballymacelligott on the outskirts of Tralee, has been involved in the festival since she was a little girl.
It was the equivalent of Christmas in our household
'I would have grown up dancing in the parade as a little girl, and that was just embedded,' she said.
'My nana had a huge love for the festival. Every year, we'd gather together; it's what brought our family together. It was the equivalent of Christmas in our household. As I got a little bit older, I started volunteering on the street side of the festival.
'I had the opportunity last year to come up here to MTU and work behind the scenes. In the mix of all that, I was choreographing the parades, too.
'It was not until I was up here last year working and took a moment in the very back of MTU when an incredible Irish artist, Lyra, was singing, and it was so powerful.
'And I just stopped and went, 'This is something that I would love to be a part of on the other side'.'
She said it now feels like a 'full-­circle moment' for her to become the Kerry Rose, adding she is 'extremely proud of every single one' of the 32 Roses.
'We are up for rehearsals right now, and the girls are trying on their dresses,' she said.
'We've had people crying just seeing each other's dress reveals, and it's just that sense of immense pride. We have seen each other at our highs, and we've seen each other at our lows, and to be here tonight, I know there won't be a dry eye between the lot of us.'
Carlow Rose Katie Ryan (26) from Tullow, who is an only child, said being around Roses is 'making her realise what it's like to have siblings'.
'When you're looking at it, you just see the two TV nights, but when you're going and you're spending so much time with the girls, it's absolutely incredible,' she said.
'Because I'm an only child, it's really nice having the girls around all the time, because it's making me realise what it's like to have siblings and have that sisterhood together.'
Yesterday morning, 18 Roses took to the stage to rehearse their performances ahead of the first selection night, which includes dancing, singing and even dog yoga and playing rugby on stage.
Hosts Dáithí Ó Sé and Kathryn Thomas were supporting the Roses on stage, while Ó Sé kept reassuring the girls that the crowd 'will go crazy, crazy, crazy'.
The second selection night airs on Tuesday at 8pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, revealing the Rose of Tralee winner