Published: 10:10 BST, 26 August 2026 | Updated: 10:10 BST, 26 August 2026
Newly crowned Rose of Tralee winner and aspiring wig maker Caoilfhinn Ní Choiligh has taken a pass on fixing Donald Trump’s infamous barnet.
A rally held in Las Vegas earlier this month by the US president was overshadowed by rumours he was sporting a hairpiece, with his mane suddenly looking much thicker and lusher.
Asked if she could do a job on the POTUS, Ms Ní Choiligh told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘He wouldn’t really be my clientele. I think I’m more focused on people who actually, like, you know, need them.’
She continued with a laugh: ‘Well… I’m not saying he doesn’t need them, but I think I’d rather stay away from him altogether.’
The Westmeath Rose, who has alopecia, is currently learning how to make wigs and intends to open a business one day.
‘There’s so many women who wear wigs, and you would never know. So I don’t have any [celebrity clients] in mind right now, but I’m open to offers,’ she said.
In a wide-ranging interview with the Irish Mail on Sunday, Ms Ní Choiligh also said that crafts and fashion are just as much a part of the recent ‘Irish revival’ as the language.
And the Mullingar woman says her win this week shows it is OK to be a ‘small town girl’ with no designs on the ‘corporate ladder’.
Newly crowned Rose of Tralee winner and aspiring wig maker Caoilfhinn Ní Choiligh
Aspiring wig maker Caoilfhinn Ní Choiligh shows off her favourite wigs on the Rose of Tralee
The Westmeath Rose’s father legally changed his name to the Irish form, from Cox, after getting married, and gave all his children traditionally Irish names.
Ms Ní Choiligh said she has always loved the language and plans to do the same when she has children.
And that it was ‘lovely’ to speak Irish with some of the other Roses on tour last week.
‘I wouldn’t be fluent, but I do like to throw in my cúpla focal, so that was really nice,’ she told the Irish Mail on Sunday.
