Maria Walsh, current Rose of Tralee, and Dearbhla McManus, Fermanagh Rose, were treated to an improptu trad session by students at St Mary’s Primary School, Brookeborough
BROOKEBOROUGH was awash with beauty this week as the reigning Rose of Tralee paid a special visit to St Mary’s Primary School.
Maria Walsh, 27, who caused a bit of a stir a few days after she was crowned when she came out as the first gay Rose, was treated to a performance from the school’s traditional folk group.
The primary’s principal Dermot Finlay said: “We were delighted to welcome the current Rose of Tralee to Fermanagh and it was a chance to give her a flavour of the county.
“Maria spoke with the children about her life working and living in Philadelphia and how she enjoyed her time in Ireland growing up. One of the younger school children asked what it’s like being a princess as she was wearing a tiara.”
The current Fermanagh Rose, Dearbhla McManus spoke of the incredible support from local people: “Everyone has been so helpful sponsoring me and helping out my charity, Cancer Connect, it’s a great charity in Fermanagh and I was really honoured to be patron of that charity.
“It’s a privilege to welcome Maria to the county and especially my old primary school in Brookeborough, it’s brilliant to have her here.”
Maria said: “I’ve been fortunate to be able to travel to India, South Africa, we hit Chernobyl next month, then New York and Australia. We have been on a whirlwind 32 county tour in 15 days to find my replacement and no better county to come than Fermanagh.
“The great thing about Ireland is that we are a very welcoming bunch no matter what county colours you support.”
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