Carlow – Emma O’Byrne

My name is Emma O’ Byrne, I am 22 and I am incredibly proud to be the Carlow Rose of 2016. I have just completed a B.A. in Psychology at University College Dublin, where I spent a wonderful three years studying. I hope to continue my studies in psychology in September 2017 and have deferred two master’s programs until then, in the areas of Health and Business Psychology. I have a huge passion for positive psychology and mental health and hope to follow this side of psychology through voluntary and community work regardless of my career. I have had amazing experiences working as a volunteer with a variety of organisations over the last number of years, however the highlight came last summer when I was fortunate enough to combine two loves in my life voluntary work and travelling, by travelling to India with UCD Volunteers Overseas to work with a local community in Assam for four weeks. It was a challenging but hugely enjoyable and rewarding experience, which I am so lucky to have been a part of. I also have a passion for nutrition and food, and am always baking and cooking healthy alternatives. I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in 2006 and firmly believe that the drastic improvement in my health four years ago was down to nutrition and lifestyle changes. I have a slight addiction to cookbooks and have collected well over 50 in my 22 years. I love experiencing new things, meeting new people and getting outside my comfort zone and that is what encouraged me to enter the Rose of Tralee this year. The experience to date has been beyond any of my expectations and I am so grateful to be a part of this wonderful rose family.