MARIA Walsh has travelled over 65,000 miles, more than the earth’s circumference, since becoming the Rose of Tralee, and she will travel hundreds more over the coming fortnight in a bid to find the 2015 Rose of Tralee.
Maria celebrated Women’s Christmas at The Loop in Cork Airport with RTÉ Host Dáithí Ó Sé where they announced details of her upcoming tour of Ireland which will see her visit schools, charities and iconic landmarks.
On Monday 12th January, travelling in her Kia Soul car, Maria will set off from the home of the Festival’s lead sponsor, Newbridge Silverware to visit 32 counties in 15 days to encourage young women to take part in a life-changing event.
It’s never been easier to enter the Rose of Tralee – online at www.roseoftralee.ie or by following the links from Facebook and Twitter.
An estimated 1000 women aged between 18 and 27 will follow through on their Rose of Tralee applications and take part in selection events across Ireland and in 11 countries around the world this year.
Maria Walsh, who became the 56th International Rose of Tralee last August, said: “I never expected to hear Dáithí call out ‘Philadelphia’ in the Dome and to be honest, I can’t really find one word impactful enough to share how extraordinary it has been ever since. It has indeed been a busy few months meeting people on my travels to Ireland, India and South Africa and on all of these journeys I have shared my wonderful experiences of the Rose of Tralee International Festival. I’m looking forward to welcoming many more people into the Rose of Tralee family over the coming weeks and months.”
The 2015 Rose of Tralee will win a treasure trove of Newbridge Jewellery and Homeware from the lead sponsors, Newbridge Silverware, a World Travel Prize valued at €25,000 from The Loop at Dublin and Cork Airports and she’ll drive a Kia Soul car for the year of her reign, courtesy of Kia Motors Ireland and McElligotts Kia, Tralee.
60 Roses who will be selected at their local county, city or national event will go forward to represent their Rose Centres at the Rose of Tralee Regional Festival in Portlaoise, Co Laois in May.
A total of 32 Roses will grace the stage in the Dome during the two televised selection nights as part of the Rose of Tralee International Festival in August.
Since being crowned as the 2014 Rose of Tralee, Maria Walsh has travelled to Kolkata, India with the Hope Foundation, South Africa with Niall Melon Trust, walked the many stalls at the Ploughing Championship, stood on the green field of Croke Park wearing the Mayo colours and has spoken to many young people.
From the outset, Maria has captured the imagination and interest of the Irish media appearing on the Late Late Show and the New Year’s Eve Live programmes on RTÉ, the cover of all national newspapers and various print publications.
She will travel to Belarus with Chernobyl Children’s International in February, New York & Washington DC in March and down under to Australia in May.
The 2015 Rose of Tralee International Festival will take place from Friday 14th to Tuesday 18th August.
Full details on how to enter the Rose of Tralee in 2015 are available from www.RoseofTralee.ie, Facebook and Twitter or contact +353-66-7121322.
