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Clare connections for roses


ALTHOUGH County Clare is not directly represented at this year’s annual International Rose of Tralee Festival this week, there are two international roses the county will be cheering for when they take to the stage with Daithí O’Shea.

New Zealand Rose Alana Marshall’s great, great-grandfather, Michael Flanagan, left Ennis for New Zealand in 1864, while Denver rose Tiffany Antikainen’s mother was an O’Dea from Clare.

Alana currently works as a recreation and events administrator for New Plymouth District Council. When she returns to New Zealand, she will take up the role of acting marketing co-ordinator for the council events team.

The 25-year-old studied at Otago University and has a degree in marketing and a degree in European Studies. As well as her link to the Banner County, she also has a connection to County Antrim.

Alana was presented with a Certificate of Irish Heritage signed by Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore in Croke Park this week. Each certificate is a personal record of the recipient’s Irish roots, showing the name of their Irish ancestor and town or parish in Ireland from which they came. The certificate can be passed on to future generations.

Alana said, “From a young age, I was very aware and proud of my Flanagan Irish connection. My parents took me to Clare when I was 11 and I returned again when I was 18 during my gap year. I felt an amazing sense of belonging and felt so at home. I am delighted to honour my ancestors and the sacrifices they made through the Certificate of Irish Heritage.”

Meanwhile, 22-year-old Tiffany Antikainen works as a human resource and payroll officer for the family firm Industrial Battery Service Inc. She studied at the Metropolitan State College in Denver and continues to take courses in business, safety, green energy and photography. She is passionate about the bagpipes, which she has played for the past 13 years and considers it something that defines her. Tiffany can trace her Irish roots back to counties Clare, Kerry and Cork.

This year’s Rose of Tralee International Festival gets underway on Friday and continues until next Tuesday. The contestants will be interviewed on Monday and Tuesday nights.

 

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