First Laois Rose entrant ready to hit the right note

The first of the 2023 Laois Rose entrants to be officially announced is ready to hit the right note on stage this Easter.

Leading the selection of young women to be unveiled by the Leinster Express / Laois Live in the coming weeks, is a Portlaoise beauty therapist with a love of musicals. 

Amy McNamara, 25, is sponsored by her employer, David Finn in The Style Bar, who is also the new main sponsor for the Laois Rose Selection event.

Amy admits that it took a little nudge from David to spur her on to go for it.

“I’d never have had the confidence to put myself forward, I’d just think that I’d never have a chance. But I do know that it will be a good experience, anyone I’ve spoken to said it was amazing,” she said.

She will be no stranger to a stage, having been a performer and singer most of her life. 

Amy has attended stage school since she was a child. 

She was also a member of the now defunct Portlaoise Gospel Choir, and she is in two musical societies, in Portlaoise and in Clara in Offaly, her mother's native county. 

With two musicals to take part in every year, Amy loves being part of the exciting events, with her  biggest role to date as Glinda in Wicked.

“The girls in work are telling me to sing on stage for the Laois Rose. I’m just going to go for it. I’m used to the stage but in the background with people around me, so this is a big thing for me to do.”

If chosen as the 2023 Laois Rose, Amy hopes to bring her positivity to the role, which she says helps her push through times of insecurity.

“I feel I’m quite bubbly, probably a bit too loud at times.  I’d lke to help people to push them to follow their dreams, if that’s not sounding corny. 

“This is something I’d never have thought I’d be capable of doing. But you can still go and give it your best shot. 

“When I was asked to enter, I thought ‘me?’ but I have all the girls and my family supporting me and giving me the confidence to push through.

Daughter to Bernie and Ray McNamara, she lives at the family  home on the Stradbally road along with younger brother Sean.

Amy has fond childhood memories of watching the Rose of Tralee in her granny Brigid Malone's home  in Ballinagar, Offaly.

“She was shocked to hear I am going for it, but she wished me the best of luck, I remember just looking at the girls and how stunning they were and the confidence they had to do their talents on stage,” Amy said.

Amy went to Scoil Mhuire NS in Portlaoise and then Scoil Chríost Rí, where art was her strongest subject, and art teacher Jayne Kelly was a positive influence.

“I always wanted to do make-up for film and television. Ms Kelly taught me acting as well in Curtain Call, and she saw my flair for art and suggested I study the creative side of make-up. In musicals she pushed me to go for parts too,” she said.

Amy trained in the LA Academy in Dublin in make-up artistry and has added  many courses since in various beauty treatments to widen her career repertoire.

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“The Style Bar is a lovely work environment. I love the feeling when a client walks out happy with their hair or nails. If you’re having a bad day and you get a treatment done you feel ten times better, and knowing I’ve made someone’s day like that  feels lovely,” she said.

She also works part time in Nigel’s pub in Clara, and  finds the time to keep fit with a personal trainer.

Amy is excited for the journey ahead as the Laois Rose gala  final edges closer, on Easter Sunday April9 in the Midlands Park Hotel. 

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“I don’t know what to expect but it will be exciting to meet new girls and make new friends and just enjoy the experience together”.

 The chosen new Laois Rose will take part in the televised Rose of Tralee final next August, and could even become  the first ever Laois Rose of Tralee.

Register for the 2023 Laois Rose by contacting Steve in the Laois Rose Centre on 086 2505791.