'I'm so excited' Laois Rose on tour to Tralee as New York family fly in

Excitement is bubbling for Laois Rose Sinead Dowd, who is now one of the bookies favourites to win the International Rose of Tralee this year.

New York native Sinead took a moment out to chat to the Leinster Express / Laois Live, just as she was arriving at Tayto Park during the nationwide Rose Tour for the 32 finalists.

"The week has been great, it's very busy. I am so excited to get to Tralee and see what it's all about. People say 'you think it's fun now, wait until you are in Tralee'. 

Below: Laois Rose Sinead Dowd (front centre behind Daithí and Kathryn) with all the 2023 Roses. Photo: Andres Poveda

"It's so nice to meet all the girls. We met the International Roses at the start of the week, I had already met the Irish girls at the Killarney and Galway races. There's more International than Irish Roses this year. This Thursday we meet our escorts for the first time and get to find out who we are paired with," Sinead said.

She has met the hosts Daithí Ó Sé and Kathryn Thomas too.

"They were fabulous, they put us at our ease," she said.

She is thrilled that her Laois family who live in New York are all flying home to support her in the Rose Dome, including mam Grainne Jacob, dad Denis Dowd and her brother and sister Denis and Roisin.

"It is amazing I can't believe it. My mam flew home for the Laois selection night and I never expected to win that. My auntie Claire and all her family that I moved in with when I came to Ireland aged 17 will be there too. There's people from as far as Canada and Dubai coming, 30 or 40 supporters," said Sinead.

Support is strong in Cullohill too.

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"They've put up posters all over the town. I'm so lucky, support has been really strong," she said.

Glamorous Sinead already has been sporting gorgeous outfits along the Rose tour, but she has more to come, including locally sponsored dresses from World of Sparkles in Mountmellick, and 57 Boutique in Durrow.

"I'm all set, I packed two suitcases and one was shipped straight to Tralee," she said.

She plans to read the same poem on the Dome stage that she had recited on her Laois Selection night, which she composed with the help of her students at Scoil Chríost Rí in Portlaose.

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"I will be nervous on stage but once I'm there I hope all will be fine. I'm praying I'm on the first night so I can relax for the second night," she said.

The Rose of Tralee International festival takes place in Tralee from Friday to Tuesday, August 18 to 22, with street entertainment, live outdoor concerts, theatre, circus, street markets, fireworks as well as the famous Rose parades and Rose Ball.

The Rose's stage interviews with Daithí and Kathryn will be broadcast live on RTÉ television on Monday and Tuesday night when the winner will be announced.