THE Rose of Tralee, Maria Walsh, has welcomed the positive feedback and commentary in the media following the publication of the story in the Sun on Sunday in which she said that she’s been openly gay for the past two years.
She particularly welcomed the remark on the Marian Finucane Show on RTE Radio 1 from former Minister Mary O’Rourke who said that the story underlined Maria’s worthiness as the Rose of Tralee who was truthful like the words of the song ‘the truth of her eyes ever dawning’.
Barely able to speak after the dramatic draw between Mayo and Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final in Croke Park, Maria said: “I don’t know if that was what William Muchinock had in mind when he wrote the Rose of Tralee but it’s a lovely comment from Mary O’Rourke. One of the first people I met this morning was a shop-keeper in a filling station en route to Croke Park. When he congratulated me, I asked him if it was for being the Rose of Tralee or after reading the story in the Sun. ‘Both’ he replied. My family are very proud of me and the most important thing to them is that I’m happy and healthy. Right now I’m more excited about the fact that Mayo will have another chance to overcome Kerry next week and reach the All-Ireland Final next month.”
Since being crowned as the 56th Rose of Tralee, Maria Walsh has enjoyed a busy few days complete with ice-bucket challenges in the Tralee Town Park Fountain, a homecoming celebration in her home town of Shrule, Co Mayo and a welcome home event in Connemara where her mother Noreen spent most of her childhood.
Today she was a guest of the GAA President, Liam O’Neill at the All-Ireland Football Semi-Final between her home County Mayo and Kerry. She’s due to fly back to Philadelphia tonight to return to work as a studio manager.
