ROSE JANE IS READY FOR TRIP TO TRALEE

‘I’m honestly not thinking that far ahead but it is so exciting to be involved. I applied in the first place because I found myself down in Wicklow where I didn’t know that many people as I had grown up in Dublin and was working there.

‘I filled out the forms last year but never sent them in. This year I did and here I am,’ she explained.

‘I really enjoyed the selection process and met with some of the previous Wicklow Roses who have been so nice and supportive. It has been lovely getting to know the girls.’

Along with the support of her parents Linda and John, Jane has been making plans for her Kerry trip.

‘My parents have been so supportive and my mum has been helping me put outfits together for the two weeks. The first the tour of schools and charity organisations and interviews and the second week is down in Tralee at the festival.’

Looking at the confident Wicklow Rose, one would never imagine that she has overcome personal struggles in recent years to bring her where she is today.

‘In the past four years I have lost 13 stone. I was overweight my whole life and at 21 I decided it was time to take control and do something about it. I discussed it with my mum and decided to have gastric band surgery. I see it as a weight loss aid, not a solution and once the weight came off I had a lot of work to do to build my self esteem and my confidence,’ Jane said.

‘I never let it show if I was feeling down or bad about myself. I did what I thought people expected and I laughed and cracked jokes but I wasn’t happy in myself.’

While Jane had wonderful family and friends in her corner throughout her childhood and teens, it didn’t stop some negative comments about her appearance which took their toll.

‘I got quite a lot of comments on my appearance or people pointing. I feel like a totally different person now and I can be myself. I am who I am.’

On the physical side, Jane says her weight loss has left her with great energy levels – something which she will certainly need for a fortnight in Tralee.

‘Lots of my family and some of my friends will be making a holiday of it to support me so it’s very exciting. I think it is a great competition and its much more than a beauty pageant, which is what a lot of people dismiss it as.’

For Jane there is a lot more to being a Rose, even more so the Rose of Tralee than meets the eye.

‘It is about the whole package, not how you look in a bikini. You need to have compassion and understanding as there is a lot of charity work involved. The competition judges you as a whole person, not just how you look and that is what drew me to it.’ I’VE been explaining the main principles of correct dating procedure to the eldest as I suspect there may be a woman on the scene!

There’s been a few giveaways. He’s showering every day, virtually unheard of before, his socks now match. He’s going around grinning like a maniac and spending most of his time frantically texting on his phone.

The Youngest wanted to contribute to the conversation. She has very set ideals: Be polite, be kind, be respectful and no kissing on the first date because you don’t really know the person that well. It’s ok on the second date though.

‘As far as I know the man should pay for the first few dates and then the woman should. That’s how I think dating works! I don’t have much experience’ she explains. ‘You don’t have ANY experience!’ quips The Teenager.

I’m feeling a little bit out of my depth to be honest. Yes of course I snogged fellas and whatnot (that is NOT a metaphor for doing the business by the way) when I was 14 but that doesn’t mean I want my children doing the same things I got up to. Or worse, doing things I didn’t get up to!

Times have changed. Teenage liaisons are not the innocent fumbles they were in my day. My first kiss was behind the bike sheds in my school. It was chaste and childish. There was no hanky panky or removal of clothing and afterwards he gave me his Cladagh ring. Bless him.

Nowadays you hear of young ones and young fellas...No I can’t even go there! Suffice to say I want to provide my son with the right guidance and advice so that he will be respectful and responsible when it comes to girls. ‘ Treat them like you would your sister,’ I advised.

‘Jesus Mother! That is wrong on so many levels!!’ he yelled at me. ‘Ok maybe I didn’t word that right but what I meant was you wouldn’t let anything bad happen to your sister so apply the same rules to a girlfriend. Be kind, open doors for her, pull out chairs, pair for her chips,’ I suggest. ‘He never pays for my chips!’ retorts his sister. ‘ That’s all a bit sexist isn’t it? I’m not sure about all this paying for everything lark. Surely we should go dutch?’ he says. ‘Don’t mind all those feminists! A woman loves a bit of chivalry,’ I reply. Even to my own ears I hear my mother coming out of my mouth.

‘And Listen to her....even if there is a lot of girl drama,’ The Youngest advises her brother. She’s way better at this than I am.

I open my mouth and my mother comes out again: ‘If you dip your wick you have to pay for the oil!’ They both look confused. ‘What’s a wick?’ The Youngest asks. ‘Ask your father.’ I am rubbish at this.