The Rose of Tralee Irish regional final takes place this weekend in Portlaoise and Ballygawley girl Ciara O'Neill is settling in comfortably to her new role as Tyrone Rose 2009 and looking forward to the hectic Rose of Tralee experience in what is the Festival's Golden Jubilee.
"Being Tyrone Rose has just been brilliant. I have met so many people, received such great support and I have been told that this is only the beginning!"
Ciara has had plenty of opportunities to adjust to the pace of Rose of Tralee life as she has carried out radio and newspaper interviews and appeared at local charity functions. She attended a fashion show fundraiser in aid of Northern Ireland Children's Hospice held recently in Cookstown. And she has also helped launch the Bush Races and also been a judge at a recent bonny baby competition and enjoyed the role reversal of being the one to judge and not being judged.
In the meantime, she has also been savouring the royalties of her Tyrone Rose title win. One of the Tyrone Rose prizes was the selection of a dress from Ballynorthland Ballgowns to wear on the Rose of Tralee stage in Portlaoise. There's no doubt she will woo Ray Darcy and the audience with her beautiful dress and sparkling personality. Ciara has already travelled to Dublin to meet with other roses and to speak to with Ray Darcy, compere at the regional final and International Rose of Tralee selection in August.
The talented and beautiful Tyrone girl will join 30 Roses at the regional finals in Portlaoise on May 29. A panel of adjudicators will accompany the Roses throughout the regional finals in search of six Roses to proceed to the televised International Rose of Tralee Festival in August.
A hectic schedule awaits the roses with four days of fun planned. An evening concert is planned with local talent from Laois, BBQ's, a parade through Portlaoise, interviews and stage night with Ray Darcy. Ciara will be on stage on Saturday, May 30 and will play the piano on the night.
She has been overwhelmed with the great support from family and friends from Ballygawley and Tyrone who will also be at her side as they travel down to Portlaoise to cheer on their Rose.
When asked whether she was nervous about the regional finals, Ciara said, "It is always good to be nervous, but I am more so excited about going to the regional final in Portlaoise and meeting other Roses from all over Ireland. It is an honour to represent my area and Tyrone in this wonderful festival and I have promised myself to enjoy every minute of living the Rose experience."
The committee would again like to send out a special thanks to all the sponsors and supporters of the Tyrone Rose 2009, without whom they could not have run the event. They also would like to thank everyone for their generous support for the Tyrone Rose's Charity of the Year Oakridge Adult Education Centre in Dungannon (nominated by last years Rose Iona Quinn) for which they raised the tidy sum of £1,000.
