Latest news with #CorkRose
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Cork fashionista praises ‘elegant' Rose of Tralee contestant Nancy – ‘She is a wonderful ambassador'
Nancy and the other 31 hopefuls began their Rose tour on Sunday from the Knightsbrook Hotel in Co Meath, and the cohort will be welcomed to Tralee tomorrow. During the tour, Nancy has worn pieces from Newmarket-based fashion store, Linehan's. Owner of Linehan's Fashions, Philip Linehan, said Nancy is a 'wonderful ambassador' for Meelin and North Cork as a whole. 'It is an honour for Nancy to be representing this local area as the Cork Rose. 'In Meelin, when they say they are heading to town, it would be Newmarket that they are talking about, so that will tell you how close we are. 'Nancy is an elegant lady, I have to say, and she is a wonderful ambassador, for me and more importantly, Meelin as well,' he said. Nancy has worn some of Philip's pieces throughout her time as the Cork Rose, which have garnered high praise from fashion lovers. 'Nancy is the first Rose from this area in a very long time – I can't remember the last time. 'She likes to shop local and support local, and I remember Nancy modelling for us in the past. 'If we have any fashion shows in Meelin or Newmarket, whether it's charity or local events, Nancy would always model for us, no problem. 'Nancy would always be open to suggestions, and she carries the clothes so well. 'I gave her a dress for the Charleville Agricultural Show and people were admiring it,' he said. Philip wished Nancy the 'very best of luck' in Tralee.
RTÉ News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Rose of Tralee 2025
My name is Nancy Lehane, and I'm honoured to be the 2025 Cork Rose. I'm 22 years old and proudly from Meelin, the highest village in Ireland. I recently completed my degree in Primary School Teaching. Teaching has always been part of who I am. I began teaching music to children and adults at 14 and continued until I was 17. Even now, I am often teaching my four brothers how to hang clothes on the line properly - so teaching was definitely the path for me! Teaching children was always a dream of mine. Music has been a huge part of my life since the age of five. I play the guitar, piano, concertina, and tin whistle, and I love to sing. I've shared my music at community events and through volunteering, and I'm passionate about using it to bring joy to others. I also love sport and play Gaelic football with my local club. I enjoy the craic, teamwork, and fitness it brings. I'm so grateful and excited for the journey ahead as the 2025 Cork Rose.
Irish Independent
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Newly-selected Cork Rose Nancy buzzing with pride as she relishes her big looming trip to Tralee
'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.
Irish Independent
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Cork Rose 2025 announced at The Rochestown Park Hotel
It was probably the biggest and brightest of the Rose of Tralee heats so far this year as the Cork Rose contestant was selected at The Rochestown Park Hotel on Sunday evening.
Irish Independent
06-06-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Cork Rose contestant with spina bifida says selection night experience ‘built-up my confidence'
But it's back to work already, and Sarah's hard at it in her salon at the Crann Centre, which opened its doors in 2018 and has been a key charity for people with neuro-physical disabilities and their families. The facility is flat and wheelchair accessible and Ms Dullea said finding wheelchair accessible accommodation is 'really hard.' 'I opened the salon in November 2019 in the Crann Centre and I've been a beautician for 11 years. 'I knew of the centre since it opened, so I approached them and asked if I could use a space for one day per week and they said 'absolutely, no problem,' and now I'm there every Thursday and Friday,' she said. Sarah's Art and Beauty offers a range of services including nails, spray tanning and waxing, and Ms Dullea said she loves her job. 'I love my job, and it still feels like a hobby. 'I always say to people that when you wake up in the morning, you should feel excited to go to your job and feel like you're doing a nice thing,' she said. Her love for beauty started when she accompanied her mother to birthday parties as a pre-teen, as her mother offered a face painting service. Sarah would paint children's nails as part of the package. 'When I was younger, maybe 11 or 12 years old, myself and my mum would do these birthday parties for girls and I always have been interested in nail polish, so I would paint their nails and put stickers on them. 'All I ever wanted to do is beauty,' she added. ADVERTISEMENT The Dunmanway woman loves chatting with new and regular customers at the Crann Centre, and many of her customers would be wheelchair users who frequent the facility. 'I get to meet so many new clients and see my regulars, and there's always a new story every week and it's lovely to hear. The beautician is also a volunteer at the Crann Centre, where she chaperones fun evenings, kids' clubs and other events. Ms Dullea put herself forward for the Cork Rose selection in 2024 and 2025, and made 'fantastic friends' along the way. 'I had such a fantastic time and made such fantastic friends, and it really built up my confidence because I would struggle with making friends. 'With me being disabled, my friends were going off and living their lives and I might be a bit slower so I would struggle to hang on to them. 'I went for (Cork Rose) selection last year to build up my friendship group and some of my friends from last year came to support me on Sunday night (for the 2025 Cork Rose selection), which was fantastic,' she added. Sunday's Cork Rose selection saw Nancy Lehane earn the sash to represent the Rebels at the Rose of Tralee International Festival in August, and Sarah said she 'can't wait' to show her support for the Meelin woman. 'Nancy is such a sweetheart, and we were thrilled for her. 'She is the most genuine and down-to-earth person I've ever met. 'She is a darling and I can't wait to go to Tralee and support her,' she concluded.
