THE WINNER of the Rose of Tralee has been crowned, and she’s a lovely Limerick beour.
The annual festival kicked off over the weekend in the County Kerry town of Tralee, and while hundreds of thousands flocked for the street parties, carnival, food and drink, the main event was the competition to find this year’s Rose.
The winner was Limerick Rose Sinéad Flanagan, from Adare, who battled it out with other women from Ireland and of Irish heritage to clinch the crown.
Dr Flanagan, who works as a junior doctor in Cork, described her win as “amazing”, and that she “couldn’t believe” it.
The 27-year-old is the 60th Rose to be crowned in the annual competition which is named after the love ballad of the same name.
Limerick has had several high-profile wins this year: Limerick man Greg O’Shea won Love Island with partner Amber Gill, the hurling team won the National League, and Dr Flanagan’s hometown of Adare has been picked to host the 2026 Ryder Cup.
Sinéad’s first press conference as the 2019 Rose of Tralee 🌹
“It’s Limerick’s year” pic.twitter.com/fgrdHYVabD— Rose of Tralee (@RoseofTralee_) August 27, 2019
These successes may have softened the blow that came with Limerick being knocked out of the All Ireland Hurling Championship in the Semi-Finals to Kilkenny.
Dr Flanagan will hold the title of the Rose of Tralee until next year’s competition, and her prizes include a Waterford Crystal tiara, a brand new Kia car, and a holiday around the beautiful County Kerry.
