THE GERMAN ROSE for the 52nd Rose of Tralee Festival, 25 year old Saoirse Fitzgerald, originally from Clashmore, Co. Waterford, was special guest at the CRY 104fm Youghal local radio studios last Saturday. Speaking to Teresa Joyce on the ‘Joyce Country Show’ she said she was looking forward to the big event in Tralee this weekend. The CRY staff presented Saoirse with a specially commissioned glass plaque on the occasion of her visit and a bouquet of flowers to wish her well at the Rose of Tralee Festival 2011.

Saoirse works as a marketing executive for Enterprise Ireland in Dusseldorf, helping develop and support Irish companies exporting overseas. The 25-year-old is responsible for media and internet companies targeting German speaking markets, after obtaining a degree in Commerce & German from University College Cork, including a year at Vienna University, and a MBS in Marketing from the Michael Smurfit School of Business in Dublin. She is a member of Clashmore/Kinsalebeg GAA club in Waterford, rowed for the university team whilst at UCC and was also a member of the Civil Defence. In Germany she is a member of a group of business people who have just launched the Irish business network aiming to connect the Irish business community there. Saoirse is training for her first half marathon, enjoys zumba dancing, cycling as her main mode of transport and the spa culture in Germany. She was born in Cork, and both her parents are from Waterford.

In Frankfurt’s Supreme Lindner hotel, Saoirse Fitzgerald a huge fan of Ireland’s national sport – Hurling – got the jury’s votes over the 2 other nominees Sarah Joklitschke from Hattingen and Antoniette Barry from Basel. All 3 entrants have strong Irish roots, and Saoirse enjoyed success in her second attempt having also been a contestant in Germany last year – but unsuccessful on that occasion. The Rose of Tralee Festival takes place 19th to 23rd August in the Kerry Capital town.

 

 

 

 

By Derek Kiely | Photo: Michael Hussey (YoughalOnline.com)

“It’s so Irish! It’s so unique! Everybody watches the Rose of Tralee, they may say they don’t, but they do”!
“If I get the chance in the dome, I will play the flute, something traditional with a classical twist”!

CORK’S Jewel in the crown Niamh O’Hanlon will try to win the coveted title of ‘Rose of Tralee’ in the 49th Annual International Rose of Tralee selection from the Festival Dome in Tralee
Originally from Blackrock in Cork City, Niamh who certainly looks the part, brimming with natural beauty and with a fantastic personality she will be one of the favourites come judgement night in the Dome.

“I’ve always wanted to get involved and at 26 years of age it was my last chance to go for it, so I applied on line with an application form and had a one on one interview with all three Cork Rose judges, then a group interview and an on stage interview too. I was surprised that there would be so much involved, it was pretty thorough and Read more