'To win it is surreal' Laois Rose Katelyn Cummins speaks about her experience

The 2025 Laois Rose title is in the capable hands of an apprentice electrician who can birth calves, compose poetry and do set dancing.

Katelyn Cummins, from Ballyouskill in Kilkenny lives in Laois and works in Alpha Drives in the J17 National Enterprise Park, Portlaoise, making control panels for motors in their workshop.

The accomplished young woman didn't lick her work ethic off the stones. She read out a sweet poem on stage in the Midlands Park Hotel, which she wrote to recite at the funeral of her beloved granny Kathleen, who worked the family farm and “never complained a day in her life”.

Katelyn told MC Ollie Turner that she is the only girl in her workplace, and was the only one on her college course too.

“The lads treat me the same. At home not by choice I help with the milking and feeding, we finished calving two weeks ago thank God. I would come home from college straight into farming.

Read Katelyn Cummins' profile here.

“My younger sister Molly is on the underage Kilkenny panel, my brother Jack plays hurling and soccer. I got the dancing from my mam, she was taught by her dad.”

After her name was called at the end of an exciting Laois Rose Selection night on Good Friday, and the sash handed over by the 2023 Laois Rose Sinead Dowd, Katelyn chatted to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

“I'm so in shock and overwhelmed. Honest to God I didn't expect it at all. I just went to have the craic and have the experience and meet a few new girls.

“To win it is surreal, I just can't believe it at all. The whole experience has been amazing. I've met so many lovely girls. I've made friends for life for definite. And now I can't wait to make even more memories and friends in Tralee,” she said.

Look back on the live coverage of the Laois Rose Selection night

She thanks the Laois Rose co-ordinator among others.

“Lyn Moloney has been absolutely unreal throughout the whole thing. I can't thank her enough for everything she's done for us.

“I'd also like to thank my parents, they have been a massive support to me my whole life. My dad pushed me to go for this, I didn't know if I could or not, I thought I was too young. He has been an absolute rock, and my mam, they're both amazing to me.

“I'd like to thank my sponsor as well, Alpha Drives, for believing in me that I could get this far. For being such a great place to work in as well, supporting me no matter what I wanted to do,” she said.

If Katelyn goes all the way, she would be the first ever Rose of Tralee from Laois.

“Oh my God I don't know about that now, I'm so young as well. I'm just grateful to be able to have the experience, and to make the memories when I go down there. To be Laois Rose for the next two years is absolutely surreal, I'm so so excited as well.

“I've always watched the Rose of Tralee growing up. I would take two evenings off to watch it, no matter what was going on,” she said.

Katelyn grew up over the Laois border on a dairy farm in Ballyouskill, Kilkenny. She joined North Kilkenny Macra in 2023 and is now their chairperson.

“I've done so much in the time, organising so many events and meeting loads of people. It's great, I love Macra, I'm so glad I joined it.

“There's such a great social aspect as well. I've done public speaking with them, tag rugby, basketball, loads of things you wouldn't do outside of a club,” she said.

Being surrounded by a huge group of glamorous women as a Rose is a big change from her normal job.

“I have no idea what I'm going to to do, it's going to be so different. I'm used to the lads in work taking the piss and always making fun of me. Now I have to go and be all nice with the girls, I don't know what I'm going to do,” Katelyn laughs.

“I'm just going to be myself, that's all I can do. I'm just going to enjoy the experience. I'm so excited,” she said.

Her parents Siobhan and Noel spoke to the Leinster Express after the big announcement.

The newly announced 2025 Laois Rose Katelyn Cummins with parents Noel and Siobhán. Photo: Leinster Express

“It's something that she always wanted. She looked at the Roses every year. We're going to have fun now,” Siobhán said.

PHOTOS of the Laois Rose Selection Night.

“She's a very confident, outgoing girl anyway. We knew that it wouldn't be a major problem to her, if she did enter,” her proud dad said.

“We didn't expect her to win at the same time. It's a bonus, and it's brilliant. All of the girls were great.

“There'll definitely be a big crowd heading down to Tralee. We'll start booking now and get in early,” Noel Cummins said.