Laois Rose set to blossom again
REIGNING Rose of Tralee Charmaine Kenny has urged women in Laois to enter the 2010 Rose of Tralee International Festival which take places in August this year.
County heats for the prestigious and popular contest will be held in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel on Thursday, April 2010 at 8pm. The London Rose, whose home town is Athy, Kildare, said that being a Rose was a fantastic experience from start to finish. She started her tour with a visit to Ballyadams NS after being crowned last August. It was her first "public engagement".
The Kildare girl hopes that someone from Laois could follow in her footsteps.
"If you know someone who would do Laois proud, why not nominate her? Or if you are eligible and would like to give it a go yourself, you really should. I am having an amazing year and have met some very special people during my travels," she said.
Charmaine said that since being crowned last year she had been invited to some extraordinary events.
"Being guest of honour at a civic reception held in my honour in my home town of Athy and being invited to ras an Uachtarin to meet President Mary McAleese as well as travelling to Africa to see the great work being done by VSO volunteers in Malawi were among the highlights", she said.
I am looking forward to visiting the regional centres around Ireland and abroad to meet the many entrants for 2010," she said. The Rose of Tralee International Festival celebrates modern young women in terms of their aspirations, ambitions, intellect, social responsibility and Irish heritage.
Ballyfin girl Edel Gilligan was the 2009 Laois Rose. Edel, who was representing Bosco's Gala Stores in Portlaoise, was pick of the bunch at the Laois Rose selection last April. This year's selection has changed from previous years and is being co-organised by the Festival's charity partner Voluntary Service Overseas. The Laois coordinator will be Sharon Preston who can supply all the information on this year's event.
VSO sends experienced volunteers to developing countries to share their skills and help to build sustainable livelihoods. Its director Malcolm Quigley said the charity was delighted to be involved in the prestigious and popular Rose Festival and, in particular, in the search for the Laois Rose.
"Like VSO, the festival is grounded in the volunteering spirit. The Roses of Tralee for 2009 and 2008, Charmaine Kenny and Aoife Kelly, have visited VSO programmes in the developing world and have helped to draw attention to the productive work VSO volunteers do in 44 countries," he said.
Mr Quigley said that the selection event would be promoted strongly as a great event which will also bring much benefit to the charity. "We would welcome any sponsorship from local businesses, sports organisations or professional groupings who may wish to be associated with the Laois event," he said.
The Laois Rose will go on to represent the county in the Irish Regional Finals at the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel in June. If successful, the winner there the Laois Rose will travel to Tralee for the big event in August.
*VSO is a registered charity in Ireland and receives funding from Irish Aid for further details visit www.irishaid.ie VSO volunteers are skilled professionals with an average age of 42. VSO is particularly keen to recruit those who are considering retirement or who are already retired. Placements with VSO are long-term (1-2 years) and volunteers are recruited from the areas of health, education, and business. For more details please visit www.vso.ie
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Friday 18 May 2012
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