MAGGIE McEldowney’s first return visit to Ireland since being crowned the 2016 Rose of Tralee has set the bar for the year ahead following a packed programme of engagements including a live TV appearance in a Lip Sync Battle.
She went head-to-head with DJ Eoghan McDermott on The Ray D’Arcy Show on RTÉ to promote the Marie Keating Foundation’s latest fundraising initiative.
Arriving from Chicago on Thursday morning, Maggie announced her plans for the coming year: “I aim to visit every county in Ireland, become the first Rose to visit every Rose Centre throughout North America (18) and in the summer, I hope to head Down Under to Australia and New Zealand. My superiors at work have been great in being flexible with my work schedule to allow me travel and carry out my Rose duties.”
Maggie has already been busy during her five-day trip to Dublin where she received a VIP tour of the Guinness Storehouse, attended a pre-Christmas event hosted by The Loop before being presented with her stunning jewellery and homeware prizes from the festival’s lead sponsor, Tipperary Crystal, set amidst the exquisite setting of The Village at Lyons, Co Kildare. Onsite at this stunning venue, Maggie also participated in a Christmas-themed photo shoot for Tipperary Crystal, entitled ‘All I want for Christmas’.
She also met the Mayor of Kildare, Cllr Ivan Keatley and the Acting Chief Executive of Kildare County Council, Joe Boland at County Buildings in Naas. Poignantly, Kildare County Council and a host of local flagship attractions, hosted the first stop on the 2016 Rose Tour to Tralee.
A round of press interviews, a photoshoot for VIP Magazine, a guest appearance on TV3’s Seven O’Clock Show and reconnecting with her fellow Roses at the Friends of A Ball capped-off a wonderful weekend. She also managed to squeeze in a short drive to Derry in her KIA car to visit family relations.
Maggie McEldowney will travel to Kolkata, India with The HOPE Foundation in November before returning to Ireland for the New Year to launch the search for the 2017 Rose of Tralee in January.
Anyone who would like to enter the Rose of Tralee or become a Rose Escort can do so by completing the online application form at www.roseoftralee.ie.
email info@dwalshphoto.ie
Notes to Editors
Maggie McEldowney is a 27 year-old Chicago native working as the Director of Development at Marist High School. She is passionate about raising money for families who could not otherwise afford Catholic education. After earning the Chick Evans Scholarship to the University of Illinois, she graduated with a degree in Media Studies in 2011. Maggie is actively involved in the Chick Evans Scholar Alumni Community. In her free time, she serves on the Board of the Young Irish Fellowship Club of Chicago, a committee responsible for coordinating fundraisers that celebrate Irish culture. In 2015, she ran the Chicago Marathon raising money for local charities. Maggie volunteers her time at Chicago events such as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Gala, the American Ireland Fund Green Gala, and Mulliganeers fundraisers and can understand the tremendous impact a Rose can have on the lives of others. Her grandmother, Brigid O’Neill, was born and raised in Maghera, Co. Derry. The McEldowneys hail from Draperstown, Co. Derry. Father Seamus O’Neill, her dad’s cousin, is a devout member of the St. Patrick’s Society for the Foreign Missions, located in Co. Wicklow.
