Westmeath Rose Caoilfhinn Ní Choiligh with Kathryn Thomas on the first night of the Rose Selection. Caoilfhinn won the hearts of many viewers with her frank description of living with alopecia. Picture: Domnick Walsh
Between tributes to parents taken too soon, musical performances — and a reminder for every little girl to be her unapologetic self — emotions ran high as roses made their stage debut in Kerry.
On Monday night, 18 of the 32 roses took to the stage at the MTU’s Sports Academy, with 14 more roses due to chat to Dáithí Ó Sé and Kathryn Thomas on Tuesday.
First up was Cork Rose Lexi Linnane, the youngest contestant at age 19.
In a golden gown and with the support of the “whole of the rebel county”, the UCC student paid tribute to her mother Tracey who passed away in 2023. While Lexi’s main goal is to remember her mother, she never wishes for somebody to “feel sorry” for her.
“I want children out there to just look up at me and say, 'Well, Lexi's gone through that. Lexi can do that, so can I.'
"I've continued to pursue my passions, follow my dreams, and I'm going to continue doing that for my mom, so that's what's really important to me.”
Next up was London Rose Ciara Fallon, who is a doctor. The Dublin native did a spoken word performance and played an instrument. Growing up in Wembley, Ciara said she was surrounded by a “massive Irish community”.
“I think the school I went to was a bit of an Irish cult, actually. We learned Irish music, it was dancing, Gaelic football. Poor other kids that weren't Irish, but they had a great time,” she said.
Next up was the Clare Rose Méabh Holland, a primary school teacher from Sixmilebridge. Her father might be from Limerick and her mother from Galway, but the only hymn she could sing is “Clare My Heart My Home”.
“I absolutely love Clare. It's such a special place to me. It's where I live, it's the place I call home.
"And Clare has given so much to me, so I'm delighted to be here giving back,” she said.
Ally Padgett, the Texas Rose, wore a black dress with sparkly roses which her mother helped design.
Most of her life, she didn’t know she had Irish roots — but was “overjoyed” to find out. After watching the 1995 edition of Riverdance on VHS, she took up Irish dancing.
Dáithí quizzed Monaghan Rose Leah Murphy with some funny catchphrases as gaeilge — and she passed with flying colours.
