The search for a rose is on again
For Erin Annabell, entering the Rose of Tralee Festival, the biggest festival in Ireland, is like a family tradition.
‘‘My mum, my auntie, and my grandmother have all entered so it was a way to make them proud,’’ Annabell, whose great-great grandparents migrated to Stratford, south of New Plymouth, from County Kerry, said.
Annabell, a physiotherapist, is one of three Taranaki women, including Renee Cave and Megan Hills, who are taking part in the competition this weekend.
Entrants, who must be females between 18 and 27 and either Irishborn or of Irish descendant, are selected from 68 centres around the world.
Each chooses a Rose to represent their region at the International Rose of Tralee Festival in Tralee, County Kerry, each August.
For Cave, losing a family member made her enter the competition.
‘‘It’s a great motivator to learn about your history,’’ the full-time beauty therapist said.
Cave, whose great-great-great grandfather migrated from County Kerry, had never entered a competition like Rose of Traleebefore taking part last year. It gave her the confidence to enter again this year as well as compete in Miss Taranaki.
Hills, a primary school teacher at St Joseph’s in New Plymouth, lost her grandparents when she was young and felt entering the competition was a way to reconnect.
‘‘A lot of my family history was not passed on to me so it’s a good opportunity to find out about ancestors.’’
Hills’ Irish ancestors are on her mother’s maternal and paternal side and originate from counties Roscommon, Tyrone, and Kerry.
‘‘My ancestors still have the land where my great-grandfather grew up and the cottage he grew up in with his seven siblings.’’
Hills’ parents have been over to visit, but she has never had the chance so hopes to get over by winning the competition.
The competition involves meet and greets at public events, private and public interviews, and a performance.
The winner will be announced on Saturday at the selection dinner taking place at The Plymouth Hotel.
The winner will go to the national competition and if selected will then go over to Ireland to represent New Zealand, the only county to have a national representative rather than multiple regional competitors.