Aussie Rose - with her strong Kilkenny connections - to appear on stage tonight in Rose of Tralee

The Sydney Rose Laura Foley will appear on stage tonight to chat to Dáithi in the Rose of Tralee.

As there is no Kilkenny Rose in the competition this year, she'll be the only Rose flying the black and amber.  She did a whistle-stop tour of her ancestral Kilkenny home last week. 

Gowran — where her aunt lives — and Graignamanagh — where her dad hails from — were the two main ports of call, as well as a trip to Kilkenny City where she was given the backing of last year’s Kilkenny Rose, Lisa O’Rourke.

Pictures by Domnick Walsh

“We actually met up in Kilkenny City during the week before Tralee,” she said. “She gave me the big thumbs-up and some tips and tricks from her year as Rose. So I’m representing with pride both Sydney and Kilkenny!
WATCH: SYDNEY ROSE CHATS ABOUT HER KILKENNY ROOTS

Her family will be cheering her on last night, with her father no doubt delighted to hear her speak of her Kilkenny heritage.

“He’s a very proud Cat,” said Laura. “He loves the Kilkenny Cats. He’s from Graignamanagh and moved to Sydney in 1995. So, he’s there for 30 years now, but still misses home. He’s very much a country boy.”

Laura is a 26-year-old research assistant from Sydney who is honoured and excited to represent her Irish roots, celebrate the vibrant Sydney-Irish community, and inspire young women to lead boldly and pursue ambitious futures.

“I’m very passionatate about the Irish Support Agency in New South Wales,” she said. “They are a company that support migrants from Ireland coming into the country with Visa applications, connection and belonging, and our local pubs are very involved, like PJ O’Briens. I think the atmosphere with the Irish has been a lovely addition to Sydney.”

And the locals have been only too delighted to welcome her.

“I actually have the love of both Graignamangh — with O’Driscoll’s Bar - as well as Sydney. And they’ve been doing very well. As a first generation Irish-Australian woman, it’s really important to showcase other festivities outside of Australia,” she said.

The Rose of Tralee international festival is a celebration of Irish heritage, friendship, and pride that continues to capture hearts around the island of Ireland and the world. The Rose of Tralee is available to watch back on RTÉ Player. Features, archive footage, behind-the-scenes content and more will also be available across RTÉ.ie and RTÉ social media platforms over the coming days.