Rose Denise lights up the stage in Tralee
CORK Rose Denise Collins is heading back to school next week – after an experience she will never forget.
The maths and science teacher at Davis College in Mallow was having one last blast with all the other Roses on Wednesday before the curtain finally comes down on her Rose of Tralee Festivities – but a whole year of activities still lies ahead of her yet.
Speaking on Wednesday afternoon, Denise said the experience has been unimaginable, adding: “Maggie [McEldowney, the Chicago Rose] was the most fabulous girl all the way along – we couldn’t have picked a better ambassador to go on and represent us”.
“The school starts back tomorrow but, luckily enough, I am off until Monday so I can enjoy the rest of the celebrations with Maggie and the rest of the girls,” said Denise.
She is also looking forward to spending the rest of the year as the Cork representative of the international festival.
“There is no sense of an anti-climax yet because we will still be the Roses for our counties until this time next year, which I’m really looking forward to,” added the 26-year-old from Knocknagree.
TUESDAY night saw the curtains close on the 2016 Rose of Tralee International Festival and, according to Cork Rose Denise Collins; the panel of 12 judges made the perfect choice when they crowned Chicago Rose Maggie McEldowney as this year’s Tralee ambassador.
Speaking on Wednesday afternoon - after a long night of celebrating with the 64 other contestants - Denise claimed that the experience so far has been unimaginable and insisted that “Maggie was the most fabulous girl all the way along. We couldn’t have picked a better ambassador to go on and represent us.”
The Knocknaloman native is almost ready to start preparing for her return to Davis College in Mallow next week but not before one last night of celebrating with the Rose family.
“The school starts back tomorrow but, luckily enough, I am off until Monday so I can enjoy the rest of the celebrations with Maggie and the rest of the girls,” said Denise.
She is also looking forward to spending the rest of the year as the Cork representative of the international festival.
“There is no sense of an anti-climax yet because we will still be the Roses for our counties until this time next year, which I’m really looking forward to,” added the 26 year-old maths and science teacher.
Denise lit up the stage on Monday night with a science trick which saw her apparently set her own hands and the hands of Daithí Ó Sé on fire.
Meanwhile, newly crowned Rose of Tralee Maggie began her Rose duties yesterday morning as she appeared at the Rose Garden at Tralee Town Park for a meet and greet session with festival goers.
It was her third time applying to represent the city at the festival.