Revved up on the road to Tralee
The Cavan Rose was getting a taste of life in the fast lane, quite literally, when the Celt caught up with her today (Monday).
Grace Farrelly had just done two laps in a Ferrari at Mondello Park and was still buzzing.
The Bailieborough student is one of 32 international Roses who came together for the first time in Kildare at the weekend to kick off the 2024 Rose of Tralee Tour.
“We’re actually having great craic,” laughs Grace, the roar of super cars zooming around the track coming down the line.
She met this year’s bunch of Roses collectively for the first time on Sunday and friendships are already blossoming.
Grace reveals she is sharing a room with the New York Rose Billie Cooper who has roots in Ballyhaise. And the Breffni county has two other representatives – in San Francisco Rose, Maggie Baglin, who has family connections in Killeshandra and Cavan Town and Roscommon Rose, Rachel Hastings. Rachel also has Cavan blue blood flowing through her veins. Her parents are Monica Hastings (nee O’Reilly) from Corglass in Milltown and Claude Hastings from Crossdoney.
“It’s really nice. There’s a load of links to Cavan this year. I met Maggie and Billie, we actually went out for lunch before we came down. They’re lovely. We’re here having a great time,” gushes Grace, saying she is making friends for life.
This week, the ladies will stop off in Kildare, Dublin, Tipperary and County Cork before arriving in Kerry this Friday, August 16, to officially launch the 2024 Rose of Tralee International Festival.
From Nolagh, between Bailieborough and Shercock, Grace is one of the competition's youngest roses at just 19 years.
The daughter of Teresa and Padraig Farrelly, she’s grateful to her family and friends for their support so far.
Grace is currently studying English and Sociology at NUI Maynooth and aspires to become an English teacher.
She won’t find out until this Sunday whether her live TV interview will take place on Monday night or Tuesday night but she hopes to wow the crowd by singing the Doris Day version of ‘Dream a Little Dream of Me’.
WATCH:
Cavan Rose set to wow judges in Tralee with her singing voice
Asked how she’s feeling, there’s no trace of nerves and Grace seems to be living in the moment.
“I am actually just really excited. I feel like I will be nervous when I’m about to walk out on stage but at the minute I’m just embracing it and so excited about it.”
For a longer interview with Grace, see this week's print edition of the Celt - out Wednesday!
Best wishes
Laura and Sinead Galligan from the Cavan Rose Centre will be among Grace's chief supporters in Tralee.
Laura, herself a Cavan Rose, has this message for Grace as she set out on the road to Kerry this week.
"As I said to her, she is about to live the most magical memorable 10 days of her life, not just for herself but for her family and friends. We seen Grace before she headed off and she was so relaxed and excited it was so wonderful to see.
"She will do amazing and certainly will do Cavan proud. We look forward to cheering her on in Tralee with all the Farrelly family and extended family."
It’s expected that the 2024 Rose of Tralee will be crowned on Tuesday night, August 20, and with four out of 32 Roses showing their Cavan roots, the pick of this year’s bunch might just be a Breffni lass.