A DREAM COME TRUE
SLIGO rose Lisa Maloney has always set her sights on the dome! The 24-year-old school teacher admits that ‘ever since she was a little girl her dream was to take part in the Rose of Tralee festival.
The keen Gaelic supporter from Cloonacool remembers how watching the Rose of Tralee as a child struck a cord with her.
“This is something I’ve always wanted to do. I’m realising a childhood dream. I love everything to do with the festival,” Lisa explains.
Lisa was so determined to follow this path that she already applied for the contest back in 2012 at the tender age of 18.
“I decided to go back again this year as I’ve more experience to bring to the table,” she says.
But being a Rose contestant doesn’t come cheap and Lisa has had to fundraise for her trip to Tralee. She set a figure of €2,000 and has reached her target. Just last Friday she held a cake sale in Tubbercurry which ‘went fantastic.’
“The support I have got has been unreal. We had a fundraising party in Cloonacool and a cake sale. So many people baked and bought. Everyone here has rallied behind me which means so much. There are banners and posters hanging in Cloonancool already,” says Lisa.
The country and western fanatic will be one of 64 roses to travel to Tralee for the week of the festival from August 13th but only 32 of those will make it to the live shows.
If she is lucky enough to make the final cut, Lisa intends to do a party piece that might put Daithi O’Shea under pressure.
“I am going to Jive. I love country music and dance. The plan is to teach Daithi a spin, put on some Derek Ryan music and dance with him,” says Lisa.
To perfect her moves she recently took part in a jiving dance class in Bunninadden.
“I am really looking forward to meeting all of the other roses. They all seem like such a lovely group and it will be great to make 63 other new friends.”
When Lisa was selected as the Sligo Rose on Easter Sunday last she said she could not believe it until a few days afterwards.
“I’m still on a high. Whatever happens I’ ll get to experience the festival regardless of the outcome. I’m very lucky to get this opportunity.”
The daughter of Martina and Fintan Maloney, Lisa the eldest of five, hopes to do Sligo proud.