The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
‘Oh my God, this is actually happening...’
CELINE O’Shea from Foilmore will represent Kerry at this year’s Rose of Tralee International festival, after her stunning performance at last weekend’s Kerry Rose selection in Tralee’s Ballyroe Heights Hotel won over the judges.
“It hasn’t fully sunk in yet,” the 25-year-old told The Kerryman after triumphing over 24 superb candidates, including The Kerryman-sponsored Bríde Evans. “But with every phone call and text, I’m just thinking, ‘Oh my God, this is actually happening.’”
Sponsored by employers St Luke’s Home, Cork, she assumes the crown from Rathmore’s 2017 Kerry Rose Breda O’Mahony. On the night, Celine spoke of her love of travelling, family, and her home county, but it may have been her wonderful rendition of ‘Red is the Rose’ that sealed the deal.
ONCE all 25 of Kerry’s Roses had been on-stage at the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Saturday night, the eyes of the 460-strong crowd turned to the adjudicators and the difficult decision they were about to grapple with.
All 25 Roses had given a fine account of themselves, doing their sponsors, families, and communities proud.
Celine O’Shea had already impressed in discussing such matters as her many travels abroad, her family, boyfriend Dave, and her love for her work in social care with sponsors St Luke’s Home, Cork. But from the moment the crowd joined in at the chorus of her stunning rendition of ‘Red is the Rose’, there was a sense that she could be the lady to assume the crown from Breda O’Mahony.
And that hunch was proven correct, as she was deemed winner by judges Bríd McElligott, Jonathan Collins, and former Rose of Tralee Muirne Hurley Goode.
Speaking after receiving the confirmation from Dáithí Ó Sé that she would be the Kerry Rose at this year’s International Festival, she explained to The Kerryman that reality took its time setting in – and it might take another while yet.
“Everyone was fantastic,” she said of her 24 fellow roses, “and I was just in total shock. I heard my name, and it didn’t click in for a split-second, but then I looked down at my family and supporters and saw them all celebrating.
“My mind hadn’t even thought of winning; I’d already prepared myself for moving off-stage and back to my room!
“It hasn’t fully sunk in yet. I feel more exhausted than anything else. But with every phone call and every text, I’m just thinking ‘Oh my God, this is actually happening!’”
The 25-year-old from Foilmore now has to prepare herself for the role of Kerry Rose – arguably the role that attracts most attention before festivities at the Dome, given she must carry the home flag.
All that considered, however, she says she’s feeling more excited than anything, saying her love of her home county of Kerry will make it that bit easier for her to represent the county.
These have been busy times for Celine, Rose selection aside. She has been studying this year for an online post-graduate Trinity College degree on Understanding Dementia and Dementia Care, and she is currently working on her final assignment.
Looking ahead, she’s not too sure of what exactly is in store; she has been given a few days by organisers to soak it all in, as they’re cautious not to overload her with too much information just yet.
“I will be going to the Cork selection next, because I want to get to know some of the other Roses,” she said.
“Whatever comes after that, I’m not sure. I’m taking one or two days before thinking too far ahead.”
She was also full of praise for compère Dáithí Ó Sé’s professionalism in making the interview process so easygoing, She was equally grateful to Honor Hurley and Will Nolan for their hard work and support to all the Roses in the build-up, and she also saluted 2017 Rose Breda O’Mahony, who she described as “a tough act to follow”.
There were emotional moments when the crowd was asked to sit back and enjoy a montage of Breda’s year as Rose of Tralee. Festival Executive Chair Anthony O’Gara was lavish in praise for Breda and her successor, but also acknowledged that the other 24 ladies who set out to emulate Breda had all made a strong case. Among those was The Kerryman-sponsored Bríde Evans, sister to this reporter. The consensus amongst the crowd was that Bríde had given a superb account of herself, doing her sponsors, family, friends, and her home parish of Lios Póil proud.
While on stage, she spoke of dealing with Ulcerative Colitis and how an ileostomy procedure had given her a new lease of life.
The 22-year-old also told Dáithí Ó Sé of studying at St Angela’s College, Sligo ahead of becoming a Gaeilge and Home Economics teacher at Cork Educate Together Secondary School; and meeting her boyfriend, Philip, at the Dome during the Rose of Tralee International Festival five years ago.
It wasn’t quite to be for Bríde, but she left with no regrets and plenty to be proud of.
“It was a fantastic experience the whole way through,” she said. “I’d like to wish Celine the best of luck, and all the Roses who participated on Saturday night will be right behind her!”