A Rose's dream comes true

 

The newly-crowned 2013 Westmeath Rose says it was a dream of hers to be a Rose some day, as the competition has been part of her life since she was a child.

Shauna Coyne from Tyrrellspass said: “My grandad is from Ballybunion in County Kerry, so that was our summer holiday every year. We’d go into Tralee to take part in all the activities, and then go back out to the Bachelor Festival, which took place every night in Ballybunion.

“Then on the final night, we’d be allowed stay up late to watch the Rose of Tralee together before going back to school the next day,” Shauna told the Westmeath Examiner on Monday evening.

A girl who takes it all in her stride, Shauna is a busy lady, working full time at Skyclad in Tyrrellspass during the week, while studying Law three evenings a week in Griffith College, plus preparing for all the Rose activities – but she is having the time of her life, she says.

“It’s absolutely amazing to be the Westmeath Rose. I am still shocked and overwhelmed, I can’t put into words how brilliant it’s been. All the people involved are just so nice and so encouraging.”

And while her favourite part of the whole experience so far is meeting all the girls involved, she also said being stopped for a photo was also one of the most memorable moments.

“These children stopped me for a photo and I remember as a child seeing a Rose in the distance and it was just so amazing, and now to be stopped for a photo... it’s like being at the opposite end of the spectrum. I think I was more excited than they were,” she laughed.

Shauna goes forward to the regional finals on the June bank holiday weekend, and from there, hopes to make it to Tralee for the final.

Sponsored by Skyhouse.ie, Shauna was crowned the 2013 Westmeath Rose of Tralee on Saturday night in the Athlone Springs Hotel, having come out best of 11 Roses who took to the stage with great poise and numerous humorous stories.

Westmeath Rose co-ordinator, Paula Gannon said: “It was another spectacular event and we are all behind Shauna in her route to Portlaoise.”