Latest news with #ofTralee
Extra.ie
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Rose of Tralee winner reveals she's actually from a different county
While we're used to hearing how the Sydney or New York Roses are actually from Dublin or Galway, it's rare for one of the Ireland-based Roses to make a similar revelation, let alone the winner! This is the case with this year's Rose of Tralee, Katelyn Cummins, who represented Laois in the 2025 competition. The 20-year-old hails from the village of Ballyouskill, which is situated on the Laois-Kilkenny border, and when chatting on Newstalk Breakfast this morning, she revealed which side of the border she's actually on. 2025 International Rose of Tralee Katelyn Cummins. Pic: Domnick Walsh To Shane Coleman and Ciara Kelly's surprise, Katelyn responded: 'I'm… from Kilkenny.' Her connection to the Marble County wasn't necessarily hidden, as even the Instagram post about her appearance on stage alluded to it, with her link to the North Kilkenny Macra club included in the description. 2025 International Rose of Tralee Katelyn Cummins with Kathryn Thomas and Dáithí Ó Sé. Pic: Domnick Walsh It reads: 'Laois Rose Katelyn Cummins is 20 years old and comes from the village of Ballyouskill on the Laois-Kilkenny border. She grew up on a dairy farm, where her love of the outdoors began. 'Katelyn is currently in the third phase of her electrical apprenticeship with Alpha Drives Ltd and hopes to pursue an engineering degree in the future. Outgoing and adventurous, she thrives on socialising and meeting new people. 'She has a strong love for travelling and enjoys learning about different cultures. Sport and community are also central to her life. Katelyn has won two county finals playing camogie with her local club and enjoys set dancing and jiving with family and friends. Laois Rose Katelyn Cummins is selected as the 2025 International Rose of Tralee. Pic: Domnick Walsh 'She is chairperson of the North Kilkenny Macra club, which has given her the opportunity to meet people and form connections across lreland. She is honoured to represent Laois at the 2025 Rose of Tralee International Festival and looks forward to the journey ahead with her fellow Roses.' Shane joked that Kilkenny can likely claim her as well as Laois in the wake of her win on August 19, and commented on how surprised she looked to hear her name be called out as the new Rose of Tralee. She shared: 'I did not expect my name to be called out even at the Laois show selection. It was such an honour to be representing Laois and now to be representing the Rose of Tralee International Festival is an absolute dream come true. 'I think it's a bit overwhelming at the same time, but I think it'll take me a few days to get used to it.'
Irish Daily Mirror
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
€25,000, a car but no tiara - what prizes the Rose of Tralee actually gets
The newly-crowned Rose of Tralee has a host of prizes coming her way - but a tiara is not one of them. Katelyn Cummins, the Laois Rose, was crowned the 2025 Rose of Tralee on Tuesday, as 32 Roses hit the stage at MTU's Sports Academy in Kerry. Dáithí Ó Sé and Kathryn Thomas announced the 20-year-old as winner who will be able to trot the globe for the next year with a €25,000 travel bursary. READ MORE: Ottawa Rose bravely opens up about tragic loss of her father and the last phone call they shared READ MORE: Limerick Rose says Rose of Tralee is a way to 'build women up' But apart from being crowned the Rose of Tralee, what does the winner of the competition actually receive? As it turns out, there are a lot of prizes up for grabs. From a car, to jewellery to free hotel stays - and one prize worth an incredible €25,000. However, more recently, the newly crowned Rose has gone tiara-less in a shift which saw the tradition scrapped, reports RSVP. For many years, winners were given a stunning bespoke tiara designed by either Waterford Crystal and Tipperary Crystal. The 2022 Rose of Tralee winner, Westmeath Rose Rachel Duffy, previously explained that the reason behind the change was about making a statement for young girls watching the show. However, there are a tonne of prizes that the lucky Rose of Tralee can look forward. The 2025 Rose of Tralee package includes: A complimentary accommodation at the Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee A brand new Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid worth over €40,000 for 12 months A prize fund valued at €25,000 Free hair styling for the coming year from Brush 'N' Blush hair and beauty group, who is the Official Hair Partner of the Rose of Tralee A week-long holiday in the Kingdom for the Rose of Tralee and a friend, from the Tralee Bay on the Wild Atlantic Way to the Lakes of Killarney and Dingle's stunning scenery, from Kerry County Council Laois Rose Katelyn hails from the village of Ballyouskill, on the Laois-Kilkenny border. She is an apprentice electrician currently in her third phase of training, with plans to pursue an engineering degree. Speaking on stage after being crowned winner, she said: "Some people say I don't look like an electrician. I am very, very girly. I was the only girl in my college, and I am the only girl in my apprenticeship. I'm one of the lads now." For the latest news, sport and showbiz headlines, visit our homepage
Irish Examiner
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
'We don't need to follow tradition': Katelyn Cummins champions women in trades after Rose of Tralee win
The new Rose of Tralee said she is delighted to raise awareness that women 'don't need to go to college' to succeed in life. Interviewed immediately after winning last night, Katelyn Cummins was asked how she felt about the attention she has received as an apprentice electrician. The 20-year-old, the first-ever Rose of Tralee from Laois, said: 'I absolutely love it. 'I think it's great to get the awareness out there that women can do whatever we want, and we don't need a statement around (it). 'We don't need to follow tradition by going to college or anything like that. 'I think it's just, I think it's amazing that I can just share that.' She added: 'I do hope to raise awareness about women doing whatever they believe they can do, and create awareness that we don't need to go to college, we can do whatever we want to do, and we don't need to follow anybody else.' Asked what advice she would give her six-year-old self, she replied: 'Be confident in yourself and believe in yourself, and know that I'm going to be amazing in future.' She agreed that labelling the Rose of Tralee festival as a Father Ted parody centred around a fictional 'Lovely Girls' competition is 'old hat.' Criticism of the festival as little more than a beauty pageant was raised on stage by RTÉ's Kathryn Thomas. 'I do think that the Rose of Tralee has been an amazing festival for the past 10 days for me and I made friends for life, and I think that's what needs to be shared more,' she said. 'We have such an incredible experience, and we'd make friendships for life, and we really, really do, and the experiences we have, the things we do, the people we meet, it's an experience like no other. 'I don't think there's anything like the rose of tralee.' Katelyn Cummins has been named as the 2025 Rose of Tralee. Picture: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD. Katelyn, who was not one of this year's favourites, appeared shocked and began crying when her name was announced on Tuesday night at the Kerry Sports Academy at MTU. Her first words after being crowned were: 'Oh my God.' Later, she said she thought she was going to fall over in shock. 'To be honest, I was like, Oh my God,' she said. 'I was just thinking of my mum (and family) straight away. 'I could see them down in the crowd. I just want to give them a hug.' She was presented with her sash by the 2024 Rose of Tralee, Kelly O'Grady, just before 11.30pm — becoming the 65th International Rose of Tralee. RTÉ's Dáithí Ó Sé and Kathryn Thomas announced the result live to audiences in Ireland and abroad, with viewers tuning in from countries including New Zealand, Mozambique, Canada, and the United States. As well as the title, she also won a world travel prize worth €25,000 and the use of a €40,000 Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid for a year. Katelyn is from the small village of Ballyouskill on the Laois-Kilkenny border. She grew up on a dairy farm and is currently in the third phase of her electrical apprenticeship with Alpha Drives Ltd. She hopes to pursue an engineering degree in the future. On the Rose of Tralee website, she describes herself as 'an outgoing and adventurous individual who truly thrives on socialising and meeting new people.' As well as winning two county finals playing camogie with her local club, she enjoys set dancing and jiving with her family and friends. She is also chairperson of the North Kilkenny Macra club, which she said has allowed her to meet new people and build connections across Ireland.
Irish Independent
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Wexford businessman believes new hotel will bring welcome boost to area – ‘It's understandable that people have concerns'
Who will be the Rose of Tralee 2025? Seven Roses to watch out for this year
Irish Daily Mirror
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
In pictures: Rose of Tralee winner crowned as final takes place in Kerry
And that's a wrap for another year, Laois Rose Katelyn Cummins has been crowned the 2025 Rose of Tralee. Katelyn was presented with her sash by the 2024 Rose of Tralee Kelly O'Grady just before 11.30pm on Tuesday night. The 20 year old is an apprentice electrician and the 65th International Rose of Tralee. RTÉ's Dáithí Ó Sé and Kathryn Thomas made the announcement live from Kerry Sports Academy at MTU to local and global audiences following two exciting TV nights. Over the course of both nights, viewers tuned in from countries including New Zealand, Mozambique, Canada and the United States. Katelyn was whisked away to the streets of Tralee for celebration, where she will be presented to the town of Tralee and serenaded in front of the thousands of people that have lined out for Midnight Madness and a fireworks display. Have a look at all the photos from the second final on Tuesday in our photo story below, or check out some more stories about the 2025 Rose of Tralee here. Arizona Rose Colleen Kelahan-Pierson pictured on stage at the Kerry Sports Academy, MTU with Dáithí Ó'Sé (Image: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD) 1 of 11 Arizona Rose Colleen Kelahan-Pierson with Dáithí Ó'Sé during the Rose of Tralee (Image: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD) 2 of 11 Boston and New England Rose Maeve Kelly pictured on stage at the Kerry Sports Academy, MTU with Kathryn Thomas (Image: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD) 3 of 11 South Australia Rose Beth Mooney pictured on stage at the Kerry Sports Academy, MTU with Kathryn Thomas (Image: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD) 4 of 11 Toronto Rose Rachel Hoare pictured on stage at the Kerry Sports Academy, MTU with Kathryn Thomas (Image: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD) 5 of 11
