'Festival has empowered me more than anything I have ever done in my life': New Rose of Tralee with proud Limerick roots
THE NEWLY-CROWNED Rose of Tralee, Róisín Wiley said the festival has "empowered me more than anything I have ever done in my life".
The New York Rose, whose mum Majella is from Templeglantine and dad Eddie from Kilmallock, was speaking to RTE's Morning Ireland this Wednesday.
The question was put to her about some calling it outdated and that it "judges women".
"I would say being a participant in this festival has empowered me more than anything I have ever done in my life.
"There is an element of judging in the process but we are truly told to be ourselves and that will be the most important part in determining if you are fit to wear the sash.
"We are judged based off of who we are and also proud to be who we are. I think it is a fair way to go about the process," responded Róisín, who lived in Patrickswell for a year when she was younger.
Morning Ireland played back the clip when Kathryn Thomas and Dáithí Ó Sé called out her name as the winner.
"Oh my goodness. That's the first time I have heard that back. It was emotional to hear."
She continued: "I was just standing there. Antrim was on my right, South Australia was on my left and we were just happy to be standing on the stage, done with our interviews. I was absolutely shocked to hear my name. I don't think it fully registered for a few minutes."
It's been a wonderful couple of weeks for the Wiley family and especially dad Eddie, who is Club Limerick New York chairman. He saw Limerick claim their fourth All-Ireland in-a-row and now his daughter being named the Rose of Tralee.
"My parents are just as shocked as as I am," said Róisín.
Róisín was sked why she thinks she was chosen as the 2023 Rose of Tralee.
"Gosh. I think I'll be asking myself that for the next year. What is going to be most important over the next year for me is I know that I am representing these other 31 other women.
"I have got to know so much about them over the last two weeks and I am going to spend the next year getting to know them and hopefully be a voice for them and the different things that are important to all of us.
"I think that I may have been chosen to represent us because of understanding it is not just about me. It is about my full class of sisters," said Róisín, before embarking on a whirlwind day.