This year's Queensland Rose proudly flies the Limerick colours

SIOBHAN Edwards will follow in the footsteps of her mother when she takes to the Rose of Tralee stage this August as the Queensland Rose.

The 23-year-old from Brisbane is proud to be flying the Queensland flag for the festival, but also to fly the Limerick and Cork colours where her great-grandparents hailed from.

Her great-grandmother was a Limerick lady from Ballylanders, and her great- grandfather was from Meelin, County Cork.

Siobhan’s mother Alannah is also travelling to Tralee for the second time. She was Queensland Rose in the 1989 Rose of Tralee.

Speaking about her excitement to be taking part in the festival this year, Siobhan said: “I am extremely honoured to represent the Sunshine State as this year’s Queensland Rose.

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“My Irish heritage has always been integral to my identity; I am a proud fourth generation Irish Australian as my great grandparents were from County Cork and County Limerick. I have been blessed to be around the Queensland Rose community my whole life, and I am very proud to be a second-generation Queensland Rose.

“This is a journey I have dreamed of my whole life, and I can’t wait to meet the rest of the amazing 2025 Roses from around the world and celebrate our shared culture together.”

Having recently graduated Queensland University of Technology with a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) and a Bachelor of Justice (Policy & Politics), Siobhan now works full-time as a Strategy Consultant at Deloitte Australia, where she collaborates with local government clients across a range of industries. 

Her academic and professional interests lie in public policy and justice reform, particularly addressing the overrepresentation of Indigenous Australians in the criminal justice system. She aspires to further her education through postgraduate studies in social research.

Outside of her professional life, Siobhan is a classical pianist, a keen runner who recently completed her first half-marathon, and an active member of her local community. She enjoys reading, Pilates, social netball, and supporting her beloved Brisbane Lions AFL team. She also proudly embraces her dual experiences of city and rural life, having spent meaningful time with her extended family in Abergowrie, in far North Queensland.

Deeply connected to her Irish heritage, Siobhan has been involved with the Queensland Irish community for as long as she can remember. With her mother a previous Queensland Rose, Siobhan has grown up attending Rose events, selection nights, and community celebrations like the annual St. Brigid’s Day Dinner and St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Siobhan’s selection as the Queensland Rose is not only a personal dream come true but a continuation of a cherished family and cultural tradition. As the 2025 Queensland Rose, she hopes to inspire young women to embrace their heritage, lead with compassion, and celebrate the global Irish diaspora.