The Rose of Tralee 2019, Sinéad Flanagan, has defended the competition following crticism that it is not fully inclusive, saying it is representative of modern Ireland.
Ms Flanagan, from Adare in Co Limerick, said that her own experience of eight consecutive years in college typifies Irish culture as it is in 2019.
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Ms Flanagan was one of 32 competitors from Ireland or of Irish decent in this year’s competition, 31 white and one contestant one-quarter Indian. All 32 of the Rose’s escorts were also white. Last year’s winner Kirsten Mate Maher is half-Zambian, however, and in 2014, now MEP Maria Walsh won the title, soon afterwards becoming the first openly gay rose.
The Limerick woman has been working as a junior doctor in Cork having graduated in medicine in May 2018. Prior to studying medicine she studied physiotherapy in UL. Speaking on Morning Ireland on Wednesday, the Rose of Tralee winner said that her experience and the life experiences of the other Roses are emblematic of modern Ireland.
“For me personally, I don’t think there is much more modern than eight years of college straight,” Ms Flanagan laughed.
“So, from my point of view personally, I would definitely describe myself as a modern Irish woman. There were 31 other women up there that were with me of Irish extraction so I think we all represent ourselves, our families and our professions and from my own opinion anyway, it’s definitely representative and I’ve had two of the most fantastic weeks of my life.
“We had myself, teachers, nurses, actors, all different types of people from different backgrounds, different life experiences and different things we could all learn from each other.
“Especially meeting the international Roses is fantastic. My roommate is from Ohio so I have never met anyone from Ohio before so I think that’s it you just learn about people from all over the world but yet have the common interest in the Irishness.”
Following her triumph, she received a Tipperary Crystal tiara, while KIA will provide her with a brand new car. She also receives a travel voucher worth €25,000, stays in The Rose Hotel, media vouchers, flowers and a week long excursion around County Kerry.
Ms Flanagan said that she couldn’t believe when she was announced as this year’s winner.
The “substitute doctor” said that her short-term contracts are perfect for the travel that she will experience and she added that she was shocked when she was unveiled as the winner of Rose of Tralee, something she has dreamed of since her childhood.
“I couldn’t believe that they selected me,” she said.
“For me, I never really thought about being the Rose of Tralee, at the early stages in Limerick it was just fantastic to be representing my county. Obviously somebody wins and it’s going to be a fantastic year ahead but I feel for us a lot of the time it’s just about being involved in the festival and the two fantastic weeks that we have because I suppose we’ve had an amazing time for the last ten days or two weeks. So, it’s definitely a prize in itself.
“I’ve met a lot of young Irish girls and even a lot of young Irish boys over the couple of weeks and I think they all really cherish the Rose of Tralee and the memories and the friendships and the fun that surround so for sure [it was] something I had thought about [as a child].
“Before this whole thing ever happened, I was planning a whole year of working and travelling so I’m working locally at the moment, subbing I suppose for doctors, on short term contracts.”
Read more: Limerick Rose Sinéad Flanagan crowned 60th Rose of Tralee
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