Laois Rose HIGHLIGHTS - See all that happened Laois Rose Selection Night in Portlaoise!

The Laois Rose Selection Night took place in the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise on Friday, April 18, when 17 entrants were interviewed on stage by Ollie Turner, and cheered on by their supporters in the audience.

The Leinster Express / Laois Live was the proud media sponsor of the event, and brought you live updates from the fantastic night.

For those who missed it, here is an overview of the Laois Rose selection night!

Pictured above: 2024 Rose of Tralee, Keely O'Grady with MC Ollie Turner

The night opened with a speech from current International Rose of Tralee, New Zealand Rose Keely O'Grady.

Keely took to the stage and discussed her experience so far, and had fantastic words of advice for the Laois Rose entrants.

Pictured above: Alannah O'Connell

Ballybrittas 20 year old Alannah O'Connell kicked off the night as the first entrant on stage, and had the crowd on their feet with a song from Pat Short. 

Alannah explained that one of her greatest passions in life is singing, and she regularly performs with her local trad group in the village pub.

Alannah had friends from the Fishertown Tractor Truck and Run Committee there to cheer her on.

 

  

Pictured above: Faith Westman

Mountmellick Rose Faith Westman moved the audience as she explained her experience of living with a prosthesis. 

She charmed the audience as she explained that while filling out her Rose application form, she used her vegetarianism as something that makes her unique, without even thinking about her prosthetic leg.

Faith laughed with MC Ollie Turner about her unique diet, and warmed the hearts of the audience as she bravely discussed her health journey.

Pictured above: Freda Byrne

Our next contestant was Freda Byrne, sponsored by the Midland's Park Hotel.

Freda had the crowd laughing and listening in awe as she detailed the love she has for her job, where she works as a special needs assistant in Portlaoise's Kolbe Special School.

Freda performed a demonstration of Lámh (a manual sign system used by children and adults with intellectual disability and communication needs) and had the audience signing along.

Pictured above: Kelsey Nolan and her son Arlo

Graiguecullen mother Kelsey Nolan, sponsored by the Delta Centre, won over the audience's hearts when her two year old son Arlo ran up to the stage to greet her. MC Ollie Turner decided that Arlo was surely the best dressed man of the night!

Kelsey spoke bravely about her cystic fibrosis journey, and the important role her Christianity plays in her life. She received loud cheers from family and friends, with plenty of posters waved in the air to cheer her on!

Pictured above: Karina Kotlara

Self professed 'Diesel-head' Karina Kotlara was sponsored by Marum & Co, and received massive cheers as she discussed her interesting work on a construction site.

Used to wearing a white hard hat, snickers trousers and a high visibility best, Karina laughed that she felt slightly out of place dolled up in a dress- but the audience agreed with MC Ollie Turner that she looked fantastic!

Pictured above: Rachel O'Meara

Clonaslee air hostess Rachel O'Meara had the supporters in stitches as she (with the help of her fellow Roses) gave a hilarious safety demonstration.

Rachel won over the audiences with her charm and quick comments, and explained that the prices included in Ryanair carry-on luggage were not set by her!

Rachel certainly won over the crowds on Friday night, receiving cheers of support from the audience and her fellow Roses.

Pictured above: Tilly Doyle

Tractor Queen Tilly Doyle, sponsored by her workplace Templetouhy Farm Machinery Ltd, entertained the audience (and MC Ollie Turner) with her sense of humour and funny anecdotes.

She discussed her experiences of 'can I speak to one of the men here' from male customers, and won over the crowd with her banter and humility. When she first started in the male-dominated field, her first thought was to go back to her happy place- milking the cows at home!

Pictured above: Grace Anne McCormack

Pictured above: Ella Maeve Ryan

Portlaoise born Ella Maeve Ryan bravely read a poem she had written for her late father, and proudly showed Ollie Turner her touching tattoo she has in memory of him.

The crowd's hearts went out to the nineteen year old, as she discussed the impact her father had on her life, and the love she has for her Mother, sister, nieces and nephews. 

Ella's hard work in a dementia and palliative care unit won over the crowd, with Ella receiving a massive round of applause.

Pictured above: Lisa Hainsworth

Portarlington woman Lisa Hainsworth was sponsored by Portarlington Rugby Club, and loves the socialising involved just as much as the sport itself.

'Promoting the Gospel of Rugby' according to Ollie, Lisa works as a PRO for Leinster Rugby through the Port Rugby Club.

Having recently established her own interior design business, and with a genuine passion for working with children, Lisa won over the crowd with her drive, charm and kind energy. She received a round of applause that nearly shook the room!

Pictured above: Mia Gavigan

Pictured above: Sinead Dowd

Following a brief interval, former Laois Rose from 2023-2025, Cullohill's Sinead Dowd, took to the stage to speak on her experience before she handed over the mantle to one of our 17 entrants.

Sinead was graceful and kind as she encouraged the entrants, and thanked the Rose Festival organisation for the wonderful experience.

She presented Laois Rose Centre head Lyn Moloney with a bouquet of flowers. Sinead also presented her mother with a beautiful bouquet, along with a touching tribute in thanks for her mother's support through her journey. Sinead presented the former Laois Roses in attendance with flowers, in a bittersweet end to her time as the Laois Rose.

Pictured above: Jessica Byrne

The only time the room was silent was when Kileen woman Jessica Byrne sang a stunning cover of 'The Parting Glass'.

Sponsored by The Tuition Centre, Jessica wowed the audience and judges with her 'Grá don Ghaeilge' and passion for education. 

With German roots on her mother's side, Jessica had the crowd in stitches as she practiced her accents with MC Ollie Turner.

Pictured above: Katelyn Cummins

Katelyn Cummins of Ballyouskill (who was later crowned as the 2025 Laois Rose) moved the audience with a touching poem she had written for her late Grandmother.

The Portlaoise based electrical apprentice was sponsored by Alpha Drives Ltd, and discussed her experiences working in a male-dominated field. 

Her family and friends shook the Midland's Park Hotel with cheers and applause, as Katelyn stole the audience's hearts with her warm and genuine demeanour.

Pictured above: Kellie Wall

The crowd fell in love with Ballylinan entrant Kellie Wall, who is always eager to encourage people to focus on a greener future, working with her sponsors Going Solar. 

 Kellie's real love is her pony Esmé, who she competes in shows with. Between representing her county in the Laois Rose final selection night, and potentially entering Esmé in this year's Clifden show, 2025 has started out as a great year for Kellie!

Pictured above: Ellen Carroll Holland

While the audience were on their feet for all of the contestants, Portlaoise's Ellen Carroll Holland brought supporters that certainly raised the roof! Master's student Ellen discussed her love of theology and religion, and amused the crowd with her love of triple religion lectures on a Friday. 

Sponsored by Coco's Quik Pick, Ellen had the audience laughing when she explained that she still has her former boss in Coco's as one of her security contacts, though she hasn't worked there in over six years!

 

 

 

 

The room fell silent and the energy in the room was electric, as everyone in the Midland's Park Hotel waited with baited breath. Steve Cronly, Head of Operations with the Rose of Tralee Festival, opened the golden envelope to announce this year's Laois Rose.

Katelyn Cummins, sponsored by Alpha Drives Ltd, was announced as this year's Laois Rose of Tralee! 

Everyone in the room jumped to their feet, as her fellow Roses rushed to congratulate her.

MC Ollie Turner, along with the whole room, sang The Rose of Tralee to Katelyn, and there wasn't a dry eye in the building.

For more photos and coverage of the Laois Rose Selection Night, click here.