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Pictures: A look back at Niamh Bracken's year as Laois Rose 2012

Reporter:

Express Reporter

2 Feb 2018

Laois Rose - Niamh Bracken ( Portarlington ) and other Rose Finalists) , pictured wit Clr. John Bonham ( Chairman of Laois County Council) and Dom Reddin ( Laois Tourism Officer ) during the Roses visit to Portarlington Photo: Michael Scully
Pictured in the Heritage Hotel for the Laois Rose Of Tralee Launch were Edel Gilligan, Bernadette Ryan, Bernard Rochford, Annmarie Bowe and Niamh Bracken. Photo Denis Byrne.
Pictured at the Laois launch of The Gathering at County Hall , Portlaoise , were ( l. to r.) Justin Treacy , R.T.E. , Con Cleary ( Head of Sales - I.P.B. Insurance -Sponsors of The Gathering ) , Clr. Paul Mitchell ( Chairman , Laois County Council ) , Niamh Bracken -Laois Rose , Jim Miley ( Project Director -The Gathering ) ,Peter Carey -Laois County Manager, Michael Brady ( Failte Ireland ) and Dominic Reddin ( Co-Ordinator /Laois Tourism Officer ) . Photo: Michael Scully .
Former Laois Roses Edel Gilligan, Niamh Bracken and Stephanie Farrell with Laois Rose co-ordinator Sharon Preston at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ie
Pictured practicing their steps for the Jigs and Reels for Irish Wheelchair Association in Portlaoise launch were from left to right -Tina Ging, Service Support IWA Councillor Paul Mitchel and Niamh Bracken(Laois Rose) both of whom are competitors) and Charlene Hurley, Fund Raising Officer IWA.
Laois Rose Niamh Bracken with Michael Malone, Noel O'Brien, Fergus Hurley and Joe Mulhall at the launch of the Jigs and Reels for Irish Wheelchair Association in Portlaoise
Laois Rose - Niamh Bracken ( Portarlington ) , sheds a tear as she gets a hug from her father -Eamonn when the Roses visited Portarlington . Photo: Michael Scully
Laois Rose Niamh Bracken with Owen Corcoran at LOFFA Family Fun Day at Portlaois Garda Station Sun 26-8-2012.
Laois Rose - Niamh Bracken ( Portarlington ) , pictured with her parents - Eamonn and Bernie and Crl. John Bonham (Chairman of Laois County Council ) - outside her father Eamonn's Menswear shop in Portarlington - during the Roses visit to Port. on Friday last. Photo: Michael Scully .
Laois Rose - Niamh Bracken ( Portarlington ) , pictured behind the counter at Portarlington Pharmacy ( where she is Floor Manager ) - offers Clr. John Bonham ( Chairman of Laois County Council) some medicine during the Roses visit to Port. on Friday last. Photo: Michael Scully .
Laois Rose - Niamh Bracken ( Portarlington ) , pictured wither family - and Regional Rose Finalists - outside her father Eamonn's Menswear shop in Portarlington - during the Roses visit to Port.. Photo: Michael Scully
Laois Rose - Niamh Bracken ( Portarlington ) , pictured at Portarlington Pharmacy ( where she is Floor Manager ) - wth Proprieter , Cormac Breslin and his daughter Emily , during the Roses visit to Port.. Photo: Michael Scully
Laois Rose - Niamh Bracken ( Portarlington ) , pictured wither family - and Regional Rose Finalists - outside her father Eamonn's Menswear shop in Portarlington - during the Roses visit to Port. . Photo: Michael Scully
Laois Rose - Niamh Bracken , leads the parade of Roses as they arrive for the Official Launch of the Rose of Tralee Regional Finals 2012 at Civic Plaza , Portlaoise . Photo: Michael Scully
Pictured at the launch of the 2012 Regional Finals of the Rose of Tralee were: Fergal Conroy (Civil Defence), Niamh Bracken (2012 Laois Rose), Tara Talbot (2011 International Rose of Tralee), Liam Preston (Civil Defence)Photo By : Domnick Walsh / Eye Focus LTD © Tralee www.dwalshphoto.com
Pictured at the launch of the 2012 Regional Finals of the Rose of Tralee were the events sponsors including: Standing (l-r): Peter Stokes (Castle Durrow), Peter Carey (Laois Co Manager), Niamh Bracken (2012 Laois Rose), Tara Talbot (2011 International Rose of Tralee), Phil Morrissey (Dan Morrissey Ltd), Dom Reddin (Laois Rose Festival Committee); Seated (l-r): Gemma Jordan (Portlaoise Heritage Hotel) & Catriona O’Gorman (Maldron Hotel Portlaoise)Photo By : Domnick Walsh / Eye Focus LTD © Tralee www.dwalshphoto.com
Chicago Rose of Tralee Finalist , Margaret Rose Keating ( with Tullamore connections) and Laois Rose Finalist -Niamh Bracken (Portarlington) , pictured with Jack Kehoe (Killenard) when they visited Oakdale Nursing Home . Photo Michael Scully
Chicago Rose of Tralee Finalist , Margaret Rose Keating ( with Tullamore connections) and Laois Rose Finalist -Niamh Bracken (Portarlington) , pictured with Staff and Residents of Oakdale Nursing Home , Portarlington Photo Michael Scully -
Laois Rose of Tralee Finalist - Niamh Bracken ( Portarlington ) and Chicago Rose of Tralee Finalist , Margaret Rose Keating ( with Tullamore connections) and Annette Webster (Staff ) pictured at Oakdale Nursing Home , Portarlington. Photo Michael Scully
Laois Rose - Niamh Bracken with her Rosebud - Emma Delaney( Cullohill) , pictured at the Official Launch of the Rose of Tralee Regional Finals 2012 at Civic Plaza , Portlaoise , Photo: Michael Scully
Laois Rose - Niamh Bracken ,speaking at the Official Launch of the Rose of Tralee Regional Finals 2012 at Civic Plaza , Portlaoise , on Friday, watched by R.T.E. presenter -Daithi O'Se. Photo: Michael Scully
Pictured at the launch of the 2012 Regional Finals of the Rose of Tralee were: Standing (l-r): Peter Carey (Laois Co Manager), Catriona O’Gorman (Maldron Hotel Portlaoise), Cllr John Bonham (Cathaoirleach Laois Co Co); Seated – Niamh Bracken (2012 Laois Rose), Tara Talbot (2011 International Rose of Tralee) Photo By : Domnick Walsh / Eye Focus LTD © Tralee www.dwalshphoto.com
Niamh Bracken, Portarlington Pharmacy. Picture: Alf Harvey
Portarlington Traders pictured at the switching on of the Christmas Lights at Main Street Portarlington ,were: Martin Whelehan , Clr.Paul Mitchell ( Chairman , Laois County Council ) , Kevin Mc.Nair , Niamh Bracken (Laois Rose ) , Terry Lawlor , Ellie and Eamonn Bracken and Kevin Bracken . Photo: Michael Scully.
Niamh Bracken (Laois Rose ) and Nicole Turner ( Irish Junior Disability Swimming Champion ) switching on the new Christmas lights in Portarlington , during the week Photo: Michael Scully .
At the launch of the Sally Gardens Annual Cycle in Association with Unlaoised MTB Cycling Club and Downtown Portlaoise, l/r Alison and Ger Browne ( Gerry Browne Jewellers) Gerard Mulhall (Mulhall's Londis) Andrew Shaw (Shaw's) Sean Culleton (Unlaoised MTB) Niamh Bracken (Laois Rose) Michaela Fitzpatrick (Sally Gardens) Frankie Taylor (Chairman Unlaoised MTB) Bill Davis (Portlaoise GAA) Edel Prendergast (Annie Bee's Sweetshop) and Phil Duggan (The Pantry Restaurant). Funds raised from the cycle which will take place on Sunday 4th. November will go towards Portlaoise Christmas Lights. Photo: Tim Keane.
At the launch of the Sally Gardens Annual Cycle in Association with Unlaoised MTB Cycling Club and Downtown Portlaoise, l/r Sean Culleton (Treasurer Unlaoised MTB) Christy Ging (Secretary Unlaoised MTB) Laois Rose Niamh Bracken, Michaela Fitzpatrick (Sally Gardens ) and Frankie Taylor (Chairman Unlaoised MTB Cycling Club.) Funds raised from the cycle which will take place on Sunday 4th. November will go towards Portlaoise Christmas Lights. Photo: Tim Keane.

The search is officially on for the Laois Rose 2018 and excitement is building around the county to see who will go for the coveted title this year.

The Leinster Express as proud media sponsor is celebrating the 2018 launch with a look back at some great pictures taken over the years as previous Laois Roses represented the county.

First up from our archives was 2013 Laois Rose Sarah Conlon and now we are looking back to 2012 when Portarlington woman Niamh Bracken was Laois Rose.

Niamh now works as an Assistant Manager Hugh Rice the Jewellers in Yorkshire in the UK.

Niamh marched in the New York St Patrick’s Day parade and volunteered in a Children’s Mental Institution in Belarus.

Laois Rose Maeve Dunne is encouraging new entrants to ‘go for it’.

Along with the 2012 Rose of Tralee winner, Niamh speny their time working with the abandoned and orphaned children in Vesnova.

Her work in Laois saw her launch of The Gathering at County Hall in Portlaoise, Jigs and Reels for Irish Wheelchair Association in Portlaoise and she showed the 2012 Chicago around Oakdale Nursing Home, Portarlington.

Have a look through the photos from 2012. Do you know someone who could represent the county as well as Niamh did?

How to enter the Rose of Tralee?

'Go for it' Rose of Tralee Jennifer Byrne urges young women to enter Laois Rose 2018.

Rose of Tralee: Could you be the next Laois Rose? Enter now!