THIS week the 32 International Roses, including two from Britain, have been stopping off in Kildare, Dublin, Leitrim and Limerick as part of this year's Rose of Tralee tour of Ireland.
Herding sheep in Leitrim, gracing the hallowed Croke Park turf, pulling a pint of Guinness and sharing an ice cream with Dáithí Ó Sé at RTÉ have been just some highlights of the week.
The Roses arrive in Kerry today for the start of the Rose of Tralee International Festival, with the winning Rose being crowned live on RTÉ TV next Tuesday.
Scottish Rose Bríd Madigan and New York Rose Sophie Colgan enjoying a pint in the Guinness Storehouse. Photo by Domnick WalshMeet our Roses...
The Irish Post spoke to Scottish Rose Bríd Madigan just as the Rose of Tralee tour was departing Roscommon for her home county.
"As a proud Limerick lady I’m really looking forward to it," the 25-year-old said.
"The tour has been absolutely fantastic so far, and the rest of the Roses are a lovely bunch. We’ve been getting on so well, and having the best of craic.”
Some of this year's international Roses from Australia. Photo by Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ieThe Limerick woman decided to go for the Rose of Tralee title about a year ago.
“I tried to persuade a friend to enter with me last year, but in the end we didn’t. And then afterwards I was disappointed, so this year I said, definitely, I’m going for it,” she said.
“I moved to Edinburgh three years ago to complete a postgraduate in primary teaching. I’m currently working in Dunfermline, Fife in St. Margaret's Primary school.”
Although Bríd loves her home town, she has been enjoying her time in Scotland.
“I've been really lucky to experience living in Edinburgh and Dunfermline. They’re two cities absolutely full of history and culture - and the people are really welcoming.
"And entering into the Rose festival has meant that I’ve met up with loads more Irish girls over here - from Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh - all over.”
New York Rose Sophie Colgan and Scotland Rose Bríd Madigan play some hurling. Photo by Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ieSport is a big part of Bríd’s life.
“I play football with Dunedin Connollys in Edinburgh and I train at a CrossFit gym in Dunfermline," she said. "I love to surf and I admit I’m a bit of an adrenalin junkie!
Bríd is a former Bunratty Castle entertainer, so she certainly knows how to enjoy a good singsong.
“Believe it or not,” she says, “having been onstage at Bunratty has really helped me with teaching - particularly when it comes to music.”
Bríd is the youngest of four girls.
“I’m auntie to three fantastic nephews and my amazing mother Anne is the rock that holds our family together.
"As a family, we’ve done a lot of fundraising for Cliona's Foundation, a Limerick based charity, which is very close to our hearts,” she said.
Bríd's very much looking forward to the Rose of Tralee finals and then it will be back to teaching.
Of course, if she wins, plans might change somewhat...
London Aisling Hillary, far right, enjoys an ice cream. Photo by Domnick Walsh/Eye Focus ltdThe London Rose, Dr Aisling Hillary, is a much travelled lady.
The 27-year-old was brought up in Holland, moved back home to Galway, trained to be a doctor in England, served time as an intern in Queensland, Australia as well as in Brighton, and finally relocated back to London.
Aisling is a specialist in emergency medicine, and has worked at some of the capital’s busiest A&E departments including the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and University College.
"All the other Roses are terrific - we’ve really bonded and we’re having a ball," she said.
"There’s a full programme of events every day, and we’ve hardly time to catch our breath. But it is fantastic.”
South Carolina's Shannon Kelahan Pierson, Boston & New England's Sarah Hogan, Southern California's Lauren Waller and Cork Rose Aoifa Murphy with the All-Ireland Cups at Croke Park. Photo by Domnick Walsh/Eye Focus LtdAisling first toyed with the idea of becoming a Rose when she lived in Brighton.
“I really enjoyed my time at the Brighton Irish Club - that’s a great Irish community there. A few people mentioned that I should think about it, and so I did,” she said.
But it wasn’t until Aisling moved to London that she finally decided to go for the title.
“As regards age, I knew that this was my last opportunity. And I knew it was going to be a great way of meeting people.
"So I decided to give it a crack and was lucky enough to be chosen in May," she said.
Aisling’s parents, Tom and Angela Hillary, are now living back in Galway.
“Dad is a Kerry man, and mum is from Galway. They’ve opted for a bit of a quieter life now - they run a B&B.
"When they were in the Netherlands they ran a busy pub in the Hague called the Poteen Still, and they helped set up the Netherlands Irish Club."
