'Nothing I haven't heard before'- Rose of Tralee speaks on shocking racial abuse online

placeholder image — Suad Mooge/ Dublin Rose of Tralee

Suad Mooge was born in County Sligo, despite racist claims that she isn't from Ireland and people "assuming she was born someone else"

Suad Mooge, a young woman who was recently crowned Dublin Rose of Tralee, was on Liveline recently to discuss the online abuse she has been receiving since being crowned.

Suad told Kieran Cuddihy that people have been commenting on social media that she is not Irish with people also commenting on skin tone, religion and claiming that she has no Irish heritage.

Suad was born in County Sligo, despite racist claims that she isn't from Ireland and people "assuming she was born someone else".

"If you actually read the bio you would see I was born and raised in Ireland," Suad said on Liveline. "I'm shocked but I'm not surprised".

Suad said that this is part of the experience of growing up in Ireland as a person of colour.

"That's why it hasn't really phased me much because it's nothing I haven't heard before. I was definitely shocked but I was more so surprised at the volume of hate that has been coming in. It's been constant".

Suad said she doesn't let racism and mean comments stop her from competing or taking part in things like the Rose of Tralee competition. She said instead she takes pride in it.

"Change is needed," she said on Liveline. "I'm just grateful to be given the opportunity to be at the forefront of this, to represent other communities and to show girls who see themselves like me that you can go for this, this is open to you and there's no reason why you shouldn't".

Suad said that people making these comments are "running on a hate train without reading anything to see that I was actually born in Sligo".

She said that even when other people are correcting them, they are completely disregarding it and saying "it doesn't matter".

Suad said that it is tough to hear such comments but told Kieran on Liveline that she has been raised by a strong household of women and said she is not one to let other people's opinions phase her.

"I know I'm Irish and I don't have to prove to anyone else how Irish I am. It is a very small group of people who are jus very loud. There has been a lot of positive feedback that we have received from this so I know it is just a very small group," Suad said on Liveline.