Lorna is Wicklow’s new Rose!
TINAHELY lady Lorna Mallick is the new Wicklow Rose.
The primary school teacher was crowned the 2018 Rose at a glittering selection night at the Arklow Bay Hotel on Saturday.
Lorna faced stiff competition from 10 fellow contestants but in the end she impressed the judging panel greatly and was chosen as the contestant who will represent Wicklow at this year’s Rose of Tralee International Festival in August.
Lorna was congratulated on her win by outgoing Wicklow Rose Abby McKenna who shared highlights from what she described as an ‘amazing and life-changing’ year.
Twenty-two year-old Lorna has a keen love for GAA having played up until 2016 when her studies took over.
She looks forward to travelling the world and has already been to Uganda as a volunteer to teach young children.
Lorna fundraised for charity ahead of the trip and spent three weeks volunteering.
Daughter of Joe and Fiona Mallick and sister to Colin, Lorna is also a keen musician and teaches piano.
‘I couldn’t believe it when my name was called out. I’m thrilled. It could have been any of the girls. They were all so lovely,’ Lorna said.
A past pupil of FCJ, Bunclody, Lorna will soon finish teaching for the school holidays and will be focusing her attention on preparing for Tralee.
‘I’m really looking forward to it as every Rose now goes to Tralee and then towards the end of the week they learn if they will appear on the live television shows,’ she added.
The Wicklow Rose team extends thanks to the Arklow Bay Hotel, Silver Spear Gin and Wicklow Brewery for sponsoring the drinks reception, MC Ollie Turner, the judging panel Sharon Preston, Selena O’Regan and John Marren, Rachel Cole and Lauren O’Reilly for hair and make-up services and to all the contestants and their sponsors.
Follow Lorna’s journey to the Rose of Tralee through the Wicklow Rose Facebook and Instagram pages as well as in the Wicklow People, event media partner.