Tag Archives: rose of tralee

Two Rose of  Tralee contestants with links to County Clare paid a courtesy visit to Ennis where they were provided with a tour of Clare County Council’s headquarters building. Arizona Rose Sarah Hines, whose native city of Phoenix is twinned with Ennis, and South California Rose Katie Bergman, whose ancestors come from Ennistymon, were shown around Áras Contae an Chláir by Mayor of Clare John Crowe and Councillor Mary Howard of the Ennis Phoenix Twinning Board. The 2014 Rose of Tralee International Festival takes place from August  15-19.

A Californian with strong South Galway roots took to the stage at the regional finals of the 2014 Rose of Tralee at the weekend. Supporters from South Galway and North Clare travelled to Portlaoise to support Rosie Keehan, the San Francisco Rose, who was one of 60 young women vying for just 23 positions in the August finals in Tralee. Roses representing 29 counties in Ireland, 13 regions in the USA, Melbourne, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Oman, Canada, Luxembourg, Germany, Scotland and seven major cities in England, all took part in the regional festival. Rosie is a University of San Francisco graduate, having obtained a BA in Arts Management and Art History. As part of that, she spent six months in Ireland, studying Arts and Celtic Studies at UCD. “My Irish heritage stems from my father, Vincent Keehan, who hails from Shanaglish in South Galway, where I have visited every summer since I was a baby,” explained Rosie, who attributes …

CLARE Rose Joanne O’Gorman from Cratloe will represent her county in the Rose of Tralee International Festival in August. Joanne, a QC technician in Wyeth Nutrition Nestle in Askeaton, is one of 23 Roses who were shortlisted at The Rose of Tralee Regional Finals in Portlaoise at the weekend.  She will now appear at the televised stages of the event in Tralee with  Daithi Ó Sé. Last year’s Clare Rose, Marie Donnellan of Newmarket on Fergus, was the county’s first competitor in the international event for seven years. Microbiologist Joanne is certainly looking forward to the opportunity of a lifetime. “I really haven’t had much of a chance to catch my breath to be honest. I am so delighted and honoured to have been given the opportunity to represent my county, I really can’t wait to enjoy every single moment of the journey, wherever it may take me.” A keen tag rugby enthusiast, Joanne is a very proud Clare woman …

Rosie Keehan, daughter of Beagh musician Vincent Keehan, has been selected as the San Francisco Rose to compete in this year’s Rose of Tralee. The 22-year-old graduated from University of San Francisco last year and recently started a new job in the city. Although born and raised in San Francisco, Rosie and her brother, Michael, have strong connections with Ireland and their father, Vincent, returns regularly. As her party piece at the San Francisco Rose selection last week, Rosie sang Working the Streets, a song written by her father and recorded by Ann Kirrane. Rosie, and her family, will travel to Ireland in May where she will compete in the Rose of Tralee regional finals in Portlaoise.