Rose of Tralee Rachel Duffy at her homecoming event in Rosemount in August.

Civic reception for Rose of Tralee and Fleadh Executive Committee

Published: Thu 10 Nov 2022, 4:51 PM

Westmeath County Council is to host a civic reception to mark Rachel Duffy’s success in becoming the first-ever Rose of Tralee from the county on Monday, November 14, at 6pm in the Atrium.

The recommendation to bestow the highest honour of the local authority on the Rosemount native came from the council’s Corporate Policy Group.

Cllr Tom Farrell proposed that the council proceed with a civic reception for the new Rose of Tralee and it was seconded by his Fine Gael colleague, Cllr Frank McDermott.

Rosemount welcomed their 2022 Rose of Tralee, Rachel Duffy, back home with an evening of music and celebrations in August.

Sarah Boland and Fiona Moriarty of the Westmeath Rose Centre worked closely with Rachel this year. They organised fundraising events throughout the year that helped her tremendously.

In Rosemount, Sarah said: "It’s a privilege to have a Rosemount woman as the Westmeath Rose but to have her win The Rose of Tralee was incredible.

"When Westmeath was called out on the TV, I didn’t know what was going through my mind. I was shaking. I’ll never in my life forget that night.

"We were in Kerry watching as Rachel was whisked away by the chaperone and brought to the top of Denny Street to get on stage.

"We watched as Rachel walked down the street with her escort, Paul Kenny in front of thousands and thousands of people."

Sarah and her Westmeath Rose Centre colleague Fiona Moriarty spend a huge amount of time volunteering so the win was special for them.

Fiona said: "Sarah and I have been a part of the centre since 2016. It’s hard work during those six years that led to this Rose of Tralee win.

"It’s huge and absolutely amazing for Rachel and her family."

Sarah then mentioned how the Westmeath Rose came to be: "I told Rachel I was coming to her in a few years.

"This year, we were looking for applicants so I rang her and she said, ‘no, no, I wouldn’t be good enough’ but I sent her the application form anyway.

"She sent me back the form and there wasn’t a full stop out of place, it was perfect.

"I think I screamed the most when she was picked as the Westmeath Rose, so you can imagine what I was like when she won The 2022 Rose of Tralee."