My Rose of Tralee experience began on a sunny August evening in 1991 singing along to ‘A Little Peace’ with a local lady Sinead Murphy who was representing Ulster and Monaghan in the prestigious Dome at the International Rose of Tralee Final. I was only three years old and I’ve watched the festival every year since, taking notes of the colours of the dresses, which rose sang the nicest song or told the funniest story and who danced the best jig. I always knew that someday when I grew up, I would enter the competition. So in 2009 on the 50th Anniversary of the Rose of Tralee, I decided to enter. This decision proved to be the best decision I have ever made.
I remember lining up with the girls, holding hands, awaiting the winner to be announced and wishing the proceedings to be over so we could relax and get dancing! When to my complete surprise my name was called, it took a second to sink in and I could see the pride and joy in my family’s faces as I seem to drift over in an outer body experience to be crowned. It is a feeling that I cannot describe, a feeling that I still feel every time I see a new Rose being given this amazing role.
At the Irish Regional Final I met with 29 other Irish roses all hoping to be selected to represent their county at the Dome in Tralee. The weekend involved, meeting the local school children, taking part in a vintage parade, visiting nursing homes and hospitals, visiting heritage sites and of course the stage interviews with no other but Ray D’Arcy. We each had a rose bud that joined us in the parade and I still receive cards from my rose bud, she hopes to be Rose in the future. It was like a mini version of Tralee. Unfortunately for me I wasn’t successful to get through to the international final but I was determined to embrace every aspect of the Festival. So along with the other regional roses we supported our Irish girls from the audience in the Dome, we cheered them on from the streets during the Rose Parade and danced with them at the glamorous Rose Ball. We met some of the previous winners of the Rose of Tralee and the most popular Rose presenter Gay Byrne. It was an amazing experience and a wonderful feeling to know the Roses on stage and to have so much pride in them.
Since becoming the Monaghan Rose my life has been provided with many opportunities and overwhelming experiences. I have become part of a huge new family, the Rose of Tralee Family, which is made up of Roses and escorts, committee members, centre co-ordinators, family and friends who have all met because of the festival. I have been on numerous reunions which include everyone from all previous years. I attended trips such as skiing in Austria, celebrating New Year together in style, travelling to New York in 2010 to march in the 250th St. Patrick’s Day Parade with the 2009 USA Roses. I have met inspirational women and men, sports stars, musicians and TV personalities all through opportunities presented to me through the Rose Festival.
If it wasn’t for Sinead Murphy being our Rose in 1991, I would never have entered the competition. Sadly I never had the chance to meet Sinead as she passed away after a tragic road accident during her year as the Ulster Rose. Since then, to my knowledge, Monaghan hasn’t had a rose in Tralee so I am very hopeful for this year’s entrants. I hope that one of you can follow in Sinead’s footsteps and make Monaghan proud.
This year in 2011, I am so fortunate to be co-ordinating the Monaghan Centre. I was overjoyed to be asked as I can’t see myself stepping away from the festival in the near future. The ‘Rose Bug’ is a tough one to get rid of; once you catch it you’re stuck with it.
So please do not hesitate to enter. Don’t think about it just fill in the form, you won’t regret it and if you decide not to enter you’re missing out on an experience of a lifetime, one that can only be experienced to be understood.
Nicola Hackett
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