Sydney Rose is a proud Cat - with dad from Kilkenny!

Gowran will be welcoming a special visitor this summer, when the Sydney Rose of Tralee comes ‘home’ to spend time with her auntie Mary before the famed Kerry festival.

Laura Foley was born and raised in Sydney, Australia, but her dad, Michael, is from Graignamanagh and a proud Kilkenny man. (They are pictured together below).

He set off on an adventure to Australia 30 years ago, fell in love with the place, and stayed.

His love of Ireland, and passionate support for the Cats, was passed on to Laura, who he brought to the Sydney St Patrick’s Day Parade every year. She started Irish dancing when she was six, with the Derwent School of Dance, going on to dance in many feisanna and community events. Over time Laura became more curious about her Irish roots.

“I entered this year’s Sydney Rose of Tralee with the intention of strengthening my connection to the Irish community and supporting their worthy causes such as the Irish Support Agency. I love Irish traditional music and attending local traditional sessions in Sydney,” she said.

Laura plans to arrive at her auntie Mary’s home in Gowran in early August, to spend some time with her extended Irish family before the international Rose Festival in Tralee. She will also be meeting up with the reigning Kilkenny Rose Lisa O’Rourke who has offered to show her around her ancestral county. Click NEXT to read on...