Gallery: Kilkenny Rose hosts fundraiser for local charity

Rachel Walsh will be getting a wonderful send-off from her home place, this weekend, as she sets off for Tralee. But before that she organised a fundraiser for the local Samaritans.

The event was held in McSorley’s Bar in Kilkenny City and was well attended.

Rachel grew up in Threecastles, near Freshford, a community she describes as like the town of Stars Hollow in the TV show Gilmore Girls. “I love it so much. Everyone knows each other,” she said.

Oldest brother Darragh is married to Leasa while brother Ross is engaged to Zoe, and brother Liam rounds out the siblings.

Mam and Dad are Tina and Liam. Nanny Mary (her dad’s mam) and granddad Franco (her mam’s dad) are important members of the family.

Along with her boyfriend Cathal, cousins and lots of friends, Rachel’s family are destined for Tralee in August. Nanny Mary is planning a ‘watch party’ at home with Rachel’s aunty Fionnuala.

One of Rachel’s reasons for getting involved with the Kilkenny Rose organisation is sure to resonate with many young women of her age - “I felt Kilkenny was shrinking in on me. All my friends were moving away and I wanted to do something to broaden my own horizons. Now, I’ve met so many girls my age that I never knew.

“It has made Kilkenny grow so much for me, it was only small in my head. But this showed me there are people around, you just have to go out and meet them.”

Taking part in the Rose selection was also to challenge her out of her comfort zone, have fun and make memories but “I never thought I’d find myself here!”

‘Don’t change!”

While it can be difficult to explain the Rose of Tralee outside Irish communities, Rachel sums it up as “feeling really proud of who you are and being Irish. Being an Irish woman and being able to represent yourself, your family and your county.”

She stresses: “It honestly doesn’t feel like a competition when you’re with the girls. None of us have done this before and it adds to our bond. We all go through the same feelings - are we doing enough? Then you remember 31 girls all feel the same thing.

“It’s so fun and noone does it perfectly. One thing we’re told is ‘don’t change - you are here because of who you are’ and that’s a really nice message,” Rachel said of her experience with the Rose organisation.

“It’s so cool. I love it.”