I N T E R N AT I O N A L R O S E S 2 0 1 7
Darwin
Derby
I am 20 Years old and was born and raised in the beautiful city of Darwin where I have developed a love for ethnicity, adventure and the picturesque territory outback. My Irish heritage is prominent through both my mother and father’s bloodline, with my ancestors originating from Galway, Monaghan, Clare and Limerick. I began Irish dancing when I was six years old with a local school and still continue to dance to this day. I am currently working as a Traffic Coordinator with Channel Nine Darwin, with my work focusing on the scheduling of advertisements.
I grew up in Staffordshire with my parents, Dermott - a Managing Director of St Phillips Care, and Ann - a former nurse and proud Kilkenny woman. My grandad is from Ballinlough, Co. Roscommon and my grandmother was from Co. Limerick, Pallas Green. I am now a primary school teacher and a proud ambassador of the Meningitis Foundation. Since being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after a car accident I have linked with the charity Mind to help support other people who may be suffering with other forms of mental health.
Derry
Donegal
Rochelle Blake
Sarah Kelly
SARAH COLHOUN
I live in Letterkenny and feel so privileged to be from Donegal - the county that was recently named “the coolest place on the planet” by the National Geographic. I have been dancing and performing on stage from a young age, having trained in Irish dance, ballet, hip hop, musical theatre and more. For the past two years, I have been training in aerial dance and have been offered a place in Aircraft Circus School, London, to further my training in this area. I am a huge advocate for mental health.
Down
Dubai
I was born and raised in Saval, a small and close knit community in the heart of County Down, close to the beautiful Mourne Mountains. I am the oldest of four children and have two brothers and one sister. I grew up on the farm but swapped my wellies for Irish dancing shoes at a young age to win two All-Ireland Gold medals for Irish team dancing. I have just completed a five year degree in Medicine at Queens University Belfast and look forward to graduating as a doctor and starting work in July 2017.
Táim tharr a bheith bródúil a bheith páirteach i Féile Rós Thrá Lí i mbliana ar son muintir na hÉireann i Dubai. Forever seeking a new challenge, I embarked on my adventure to Dubai on New Year’s Eve 2015 where I became a Marketing Officer for Polarcus, a company that specializes in seismic acquisition and geophysical interpretation. The city became my second home the following September, when I joined the Dubai Celts GAA Club. Even though both of my parents are from Mayo, I never picked up a football until I was twenty-three and living in a desert, 8,000km away from home!
Dublin
Fermanagh
I am a fully-qualified primary school teacher in St. Vincent de Paul Infant School, Griffith Avenue. My main hobby since age five has been Irish dancing and I was delighted to retire last summer at age 24 as two-times World Champion, five-times All-Ireland Champion and three-times Dublin Regional Champion. Since retiring I’ve created my own Irish dancing blog called ‘Twinkle Toes’. It’s always been a dream of mine to set up a dance school and so this year the Coughlan School of Irish Dancing opened its doors in Glasnevin.
I am a doctor of philosophy student at Queen’s University Belfast with a Masters in Inclusion and Special Needs Education. I currently teach Physical Education at Saint Mary’s High School Brollagh, Belleek in Fermanagh. I enjoy farming, sport and in recent years, I have developed an interest in travelling. Last August I was lucky enough to receive a scholarship as an Irish delegate to participate in the annual Association of Commonwealth Summer School in Africa to discuss multidisciplinary issues of global importance. I love going to country music festivals, concerts and dances across Ireland.
Florida
Galway
I am thrilled to be traveling to Ireland to participate in an event representative of my Irish heritage of which I am immensely proud. My grandfather, Tom O’Donoghue, grew up in Listowel and my great grandparents hailed from Mayo and Cork. Performing with the Irish Echoes in Orlando, working at Walt Disney World in the entertainment department, and acting as the Production Director of the children’s ministry at my church, keep my days busy and my heart fulfilled. I volunteer my time to the Special Olympics because of my brother, Michael, who is severely mentally and physically disabled.
I’m from Castlegar in the heart of Galway city. I spent four years studying in GMIT Mayo and have been working as a staff nurse in the Acute Medical Unit, University Hospital Galway since December 2015. I aspire to continue my studies in the near future to specialise as a neonatal nurse. In 2005, my mother was part of a small committee who set up the Liam Mellows Camogie club for me and my sister to be able to play with our own club. I am proud to say I have travelled to seven different countries in the last year.
Lisa O’Donoghue
Orlagh McNally
Stephanie Maguire
Maria Coughlan
ELIZABETH MARINCE
22
Amy Callaghan
Is as Léim an Mhadaidh i gContae Dhoire mé. Tá mé 24 d’aois agus is múinteoir bunscoile mé. Is onór mhór dom le bheith mar ionadaí i mbliana ar son muintir Dhoire i Féile Rós Thrá Lí, ní thig liom fanacht! Tá mé ag dúil go mór leis na himeachtaí uilig a bheas ar siúl le linn na seachtaine seo i dTrá Lí. This year, I hope to organise various fundraisers, with all proceeds going towards Chest, Heart and Stroke; a charity very close to my own heart. I plan to raise the Doire flag at the peak of each of the highest mountains in the four provinces of Ireland.
Niamh Elwood
A longer version of each Rose’s autobiography is available on our website www.roseoftralee.ie