‘I am so proud to have represented our county’

ROSE OF TRALEE As the Westmeath Rose Centre prepare to choose a new Rose to represent the county, 2022 International Rose of Tralee Rachel Duffy looks back on her reign

If you had told me a few years ago that I would ever enter the Rose of Tralee, much less be chosen as the 2022 International Rose of Tralee, I would have never believed it. But on a whim, in spring 2022 I made the decision to apply for the Westmeath Rose Selection. I saw it as an opportunity to gain some confidence, make friends and try something new. What I never expected was that I would embark on the journey of a lifetime, a journey that has brought out the best in me and helped me transform into an empowered young woman full of courage, hope and gratitude.

In August 2022, with 32 new friends from around the world, I embarked on the unforgettable Rose Tour of Ireland. I felt like the luckiest girl on the planet. I felt honoured to be in the company of so many inspiring and empowering women. To this day, I am filled with pride with the knowledge that I call them my friends.

It was on August 23, 2022, that the word ‘Westmeath’ rang out in the MTU in Tralee and my life as I knew it changed. It was like a surge of electricity passed through my body, and I remember feeling like the ground might just open and swallow me. The disbelief was evident on my face that night and of course, I am constantly reminded of my terrified expression when my name was called out!

The first highlight of my year was my homecoming to Rosemount. Returning to the village where I grew up, to be greeted with flags, bunting and posters outside everyone’s homes was one of the most humbling experiences I have ever had. Hundreds upon hundreds of people met me, all ready to celebrate and dance the night away in P Egan’s.

In November 2022, with butterflies in my belly, I boarded a flight that would take me halfway around the world to Kolkata, India. What followed was the most overwhelming and eye-opening experience of my life. ‘A world where it should never hurt to be a child’ the vision of the HOPE Foundation, echoed in my mind throughout my time there. On meeting Maureen Forrest, founder of the HOPE Foundation, I was blown away by her dedication to create a brighter future for the homeless and slum-dwelling communities of the city. I was inspired by the children I met, by their kindness and talent, mostly by how loving they were, and how they welcomed me, a stranger, into their classrooms, centres, and homes with open arms.

I began to feel more confident in my role and a lot of that I can attribute to a weekend long reunion with all of the past International Roses of Tralee. We biked around Tralee, and they shared stories and tales of their time as Roses, each imparting small nuggets of knowledge and instilling their faith in me. I felt a sense of family and safety in their company and knew I would be a part of this family long after my time as the reigning Rose had ended.

While I am already a Godmother to my nephew Daithí, in February 2023 in an unexpected turn of events I became a Ferry Godmother! As a student of Spanish and having lived in the north of Spain, being bestowed the honour of Baptising the new Brittany Ferries Ship ‘The Salamanca’ was a total surprise and a full circle moment, as I visited the beautiful city of Salamanca during my studies a few years ago.

Thanks to the Irish Embassy in Paris, I travelled to France and became the first Irish woman to Baptise a Brittany Ferries ship. It is tradition for the Godmother to smash a bottle of champagne on the bow of the ship in order to ensure the safety of its crew and a long life at sea.

In March, it was time for the annual trip of the Roses and Escorts to the Big Apple to celebrate St Patrick’s Day. It was an early start on March 17, and we made our way to Gracie Mansion, the residence of the mayor of New York for breakfast. We were so fortunate to attend Mass that morning in St Patrick’s Cathedral, and I was blown away by the beauty and spirit of the celebration that day. We then reunited with our 2022 Class of Roses and Escorts to march down Fifth Avenue in the New York St Patrick’s Day Parade. We all felt an immense sense of pride as we were representing the festival, and we were each representing our respective home places.

I was honoured to receive an invitation from Westmeath New York GAA to return to New York in May for their dinner dance and Tailteann Cup celebration weekend. I packed my bags to jet off to New York, excited but apprehensive to be taking this trip alone. Once I arrived, however, it became clear that I felt more at home than ever on that trip because there were so many Westmeath natives there, welcoming me with open arms. Many of them expressed how much they missed home when watching the Rose of Tralee and seeing Westmeath bring it home. It reinforced the principals of the festival for me, that it is a celebration of amazing women, and it honours Irish identities around the globe.

I have been lucky throughout the year to have been involved with multiple charities and campaigns. One such campaign that is close to my heart is 100K in 30 Days for Breast Cancer. Being an ambassador for the campaign was particularly special. It gave me the opportunity to meet breast cancer survivors and BRCA warriors, to hear their stories and be inspired by their strength. It was an amazing initiative to raise money for Marie Keating Foundation breast cancer services. The campaign raised €1 million.

Passing the sash to the wonderful New York Rose Róisín Wiley in August 2023 was a moment of immense pride. It symbolised the end of a chapter but also served as a reminder of all I had achieved in the space of a year. It was a year filled with highs and lows, lessons and everything you can imagine in between but it was a hugely rewarding experience and something I will look back on with love for the rest of my life.

I am looking forward to meeting the 2024 Westmeath Rose, who will be chosen this year on April 6. It’s hard to believe it has been two years since I entered the festival but it was one of the best choices I have ever made. I am so proud to have represented our county and would recommend the experience to anyone considering it. The best advice I can give is to just be yourself.