Abu Dhabi – Dearbhladh Walsh

Hello my name is Dearbhladh Walsh. I am 24 and grew up in Cloneyhurke, just outside the town of Portarlington in Co. Offaly. I have two brothers and very supportive, caring and hardworking parents. I am a Primary School Teacher, I taught in the Presentation Primary School in Portarlington for three years before I took a career break last summer to make the move to the UAE. Although I am only living in Abu Dhabi one year it has been the experience of a lifetime. Aside from the beautiful weather, teaching in a school outside of Ireland is a great learning curve for me as well as getting to enjoy the fantastic lifestyle that is on offer for expats in the UAE.I love to travel and was lucky enough to visit a variety of destinations this year including Kenya, Bahrain, Nepal and India. I look forward to seeing more of the Middle East and Asia over the next couple of years.My passion is for music. I love to sing and I play four different instruments. I play the traditional Irish flute, the tin whistle, the guitar and the harp. I have played at many weddings and events over the years both at home and abroad and participated in and won numerous competitions. I enjoy keeping active and playing sports also. I took up Gaelic football this year and I am really enjoying the experience playing for Abu Dhabi na Fianna GAA club.The enthusiasm and support shown to me since becoming the Abu Dhabi Rose has been overwhelming, I have thoroughly enjoyed my involvement in events organized by the Irish community such as Darkness into Light and the 1916 Commemorative Celebrations. I am really looking forward to representing the growing Irish diaspora in Abu Dhabi and I hope to do them proud.