Have you got what it takes to be the next Cavan Rose?
The selection for the Cavan Rose of Tralee 2024 is taking place on April 21 to much anticipation at the Hotel Kilmore.
A dozen local ladies have put their names forward so far, however more women are being encouraged to come onboard and join in the “experience of a lifetime”.
The current Cavan Rose is Tara Rogers, a primary school teacher from Knockbride, who was selected in 2022 and she will be handing over the crown and sash to the new Rose at next month’s selection event.
Laura Galligan and her sister Sinéad run the Cavan Rose Centre. Laura represented Cavan at the Rose of Tralee in 2014, the year Maria Walsh - now an MEP - was crowned winner.
Drung native Laura says the event has to be experienced personally to fully appreciate the opportunity it provides for the contestants that gather from all over the globe for the festivities.
“The Cavan Rose 2024 will be going to Tralee and it’s going to be an amazing experience,” said Laura, before adding that the stakes are high for a local woman to be crowned this year’s Rose of Tralee at the international festival later this year.
A reorganisation of the competition, pre-Covid, means Cavan has a Rose every second year and the representative is guaranteed a television interview.
“It’s a great opportunity for women who become involved - you make great friends, have wonderful experiences and come away with great memories. I was the Cavan Rose in 2014 - that was the year that Maria Walsh was crowned Rose of Tralee - and she went on to become an MEP in the European Parliament. You meet the most amazing women at the festival.”
Laura is also encouraging local women to get involved and the good news is, there’s still plenty of time for that.
Qualifying criteria
Participants must be aged between 18 years by January 1, 2024, and not have reached their 30th birthday on or prior to September 1, 2024. They must also be female or identify as female; be born in Ireland; and be an Irish citizen or be of Irish origin through ancestors born here. Contestants asso must not have previously represented any centre as a Rose in the Regional Festival or International Rose of Tralee Selection.
“We are trying to get as many local girls involved as we can because it really is a wonderful experience for them,” Laura continued. “When it comes to judging, it’s about getting to know the contestant, the person they are and those involved will get the opportunity to meet great people from all different backgrounds along the way. They will even get to meet people from all across Co Cavan, people they might not have gotten to know were it not for their involvement in the contest.”
Applications can be made to Cavan Rose Centre on the Facebook and Instagram pages.
The Rose of Tralee Festival selection takes place in August in Kerry with Dáithí Ó Sé expected to return to the Dome to present the event live on TV.