The 2024 Rose of Tralee winner, New Zealand Rose Keely O’Grady, is encouraging Laois Rose hopefuls to give it their all and enjoy themselves.

Ms O’Grady spoke to The Leinster Express / Laois Live about the highlights of her whirlwind year, and her words of advice for Laois Rose entrants.

“My year has been crazy, it’s been non-stop and I’m always on the go,” Ms O’Grady said.

Pictured: Keely O'Grady, the 2024 Rose of Tralee

“It’s been crazy, being a 21 year old girl who hasn’t seen much of the world. I’ve had the chance to do different activities and opportunities with charities, I meet so many new people every week.

“I travel all across the world. It's crazy in the best way possible,” she said.

As the 2024 Rose of Tralee, Keely has enjoyed an extensive prize package that includes a Kia Niro plug-in hybrid for her year,
a world travel prize valued at €25,000, free hair styling and accommodation in the 4-star Meadowlands Hotel, among many other perks and trips that come with the Rose of Tralee mantle.

Search is on to find the 2025 Laois Rose and the new Rose of Tralee

Ms O’Grady has wished the best of luck to Laois Rose entrants, with plenty of heartfelt advice for them.

Though the experience was out of her comfort zone at first, the Rose has encouraged Laois entrants to give their all.

“It's one thing to put yourself on stage as a dancer, it’s another thing to go on stage as yourself, showcasing your personality and your achievements, and what you’re passionate about. I was terrified. It is terrifying,” Ms O’Grady admitted.

Pictured: Laois and Offaly Rose hopefuls visit to Fossey Mountain Springs Ranch, 2025. Picture: Alf Harvey.

“But the thrill you get after, and the sense of accomplishment and confidence that you find in yourself from doing it, is so life changing.

“I have developed so much as a person from this experience. My confidence and my self worth have grown, along with my ability to put myself out there and just give things a go.

“It’s helped me learn how to connect with people of all cultures and all ages, no matter the demographic. These are all skills that I will take with me for the rest of my life.

"It was very different from anything I had ever done before, and there’s nothing like it. If I could do it again I would!” she said.

“For a lot of people, their excuse for not entering is that it isn't the right time, or they have too much going on. To be honest, there is never really a right time,” Ms O’Grady said.

Pictured: Keely O'Grady, New Zealand Rose and Winner of the 2024 Rose of Tralee Festival

“I know that a lot of the girls will vouch for this- when you are in it, everyone is so supportive and so understanding. There is overwhelming support from everyone in the community to support you on this opportunity.

"There is never going to be a right time, so throw yourself in headfirst- it’s life changing! I had so much fun. We have had two new roses selected for 2025, our Longford Rose and our Meath Rose," she said.

“I’ve met them both and I have told them how jealous I am of the fun they’re going to have! I would do it all again in a heartbeat,” Ms O’Grady said.

The Rose of Tralee was a recent guest of honour at Chicago’s St Patrick’s Day parade. 

“Even the beginning stages, before Tralee, the beginning stages are so much fun,” she said.

“It’s very local and you meet such like minded people, it's great craic. I entered my local competition in New Zealand and it was just myself and two other girls going for it, and we are now tied at the hip," she said.

Pictured: Keely O'Grady and Rose of Tralee host Dáíthí O'Sé.

“I progressed to the national selection and then to Tralee. I have made so many new close friends, and I’ve met such an amazing group of girls,” she said.

“We are all so different, and they are all so incredible. It's just amazing, you don't really get the opportunity as a young lady to meet so many different people. It’s an amazing opportunity.”

The Rose has spent the last year travelling the world on humanitarian trips and official visits, all while working on her university degree.

“New Zealand is a bit different in terms of the college year- our summer is in your winter, so our university year starts in February and then ends in November.

“During the festival, when all of the Irish girls were on their summer break from college, I was smack bang in the middle of my degree,” Keely explained.

“I was very lucky that my university was very understanding, they have a really good policy when it comes to representing your country on a national and international level, so I was accommodated very well,” she said.

“But there was still the expectation that I had assignments to do, I couldn’t just not be a student for the weeks I am not there,” she said.

“So I had a few assignments to work on while I was away in Tralee, and I got those done! Maybe not to the best of my ability, but they were done!” The Rose of Tralee laughed.

Of her many trips around the globe, the Rose has particularly enjoyed her American trips and humanitarian trips.

"My favourite trips so far have been my America trips, I’ve been to Arizona and Texas. Being from New Zealand, I haven’t been able to travel that much.

"Seeing America had me shook to my core- I couldn’t believe that things could be so big! I’ve learned that everything is bigger in Texas!” she laughed.

“My other highlight would be my Poland trip that I recently went on, which was a humanitarian aid trip with Happy Kids Foundation and Chernobyl Children International. We volunteer at some safe houses for orphans who have been displaced by the war in Ukraine.

"We traveled over there and managed to raise over €90,000 in aid for these charities, which was absolutely incredible,” Ms O'Grady explained.

Alannah O’Connell (Dublin Stove and Fire); Katelyn Cummins (Alpha Drives Ltd); Karina Kotlara (Marum & Co); Ellie O’Sullivan (Mary Kearns Hair) and Jessica Byrne (The Tuition Centre) at the Laois Rose of Tralee contestants visit to Fossey Mountain Springs Ranch. Picture: Alf Harvey.

“As much as the Rose of Tralee is a laugh, good fun and going out with friends, it’s also about making a difference to the world. It’s about getting out there and doing the work to make a difference. That work was definitely a highlight of my experience,” she said.

The 2024 Rose of Tralee has called for Laois entrants to do their best and have fun, and has wished them all the very best of luck.

The Laois Rose Selection night will take place on Friday April 18 at the Midlands Park Hotel in Portlaoise, with Laois Rose entrants recently taking to Fossey Mountain Springs Ranch for a fun horseback riding activity.

In PICTURES: Laois Rose entrants go Wild West