At a ceremony in the Enniskillen Hotel on Sunday night, Stephanie who was last to take to the stage, was chosen out of seven other ladies.

The 25-year-old is from Marlbank, Florencecourt, and is currently a full-time PHD student at Queen’s University. She also teaches physical education at Saint Mary’s High School, Brollagh.

Kinawley woman and the 2016 Fermanagh Rose, Mairead McHugh handed over the title to Stephanie who will now represent Fermanagh in the prestigious Rose of Tralee International Festival. Speaking of her shock of being crowned the Fermanagh Rose, Stephanie said, 

“It was a fantastic night from start to finish – from meeting the escorts, watching the girls perform, listening to Mariead’s inspirational speech and celebrating being the 2017 Fermanagh Rose. It is a night I won’t forget for a very long time. 

“I was delighted and humbled to be chosen as the 2017 Fermanagh Rose and I don’t think it will sink in for a while,” 

Before the selection event, Stephanie and the other Rose hopefuls went on a tour of the Marble Arch Caves and Florencecourt House. The girls then took part in interviews with the three judges, before getting on stage on Sunday night. Stephanie, who is sponsored by Eden Hair and Beaty, Enniskillen will now go forward to the Festival as one of the 65 Roses who will descend on Tralee from August 16th to the 22nd.

Stephanie continued, “My hopes for the year ahead is to be a good role model and ambassador for Fermanagh. My aim is to embrace every opportunity that comes my way throughout the next year and I hope to do lots of travelling both inside and outside Ireland alongside making life-long friends,” concluded Stephanie.