Keely O'Grady, 21, was awarded the 2024 title in Invercargill on Saturday evening after years of encouragement from her father “to stay connected to her Irish culture”.
Surprised by her victory, the Canterbury representative praised her father's persistence in exploring her Irish identity. The Rose of Tralee celebrates young women of Irish descent in New Zealand.
“As soon as I turned 18, I would get a message from my dad every year to join in, but the timing was never quite right because of my university studies.
“I finally got involved and was inspired by my dad and just wanted to make him proud of me,” Ms O'Grady said.
Ms O'Grady will complete her bachelor's degree in speech and language pathology from the University of Canterbury while fulfilling her duties as New Zealand's Rose of Tralee 2024.
She was chosen from ten other hopefuls to represent the country at the International Rose of Tralee Festival held in Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland in August.
The international festival was founded in 1959 and is held annually in Ireland. It celebrates women and appoints a female ambassador for Irish culture and heritage.
'The Rose of every country is represented there and it is a great celebration of Irish culture and heritage.
“This is a great opportunity,” she said.
Her father's family came from County Wicklow and she attributed to them a childhood 'growing up around Irish sport, Irish music and especially Irish dancing'.
Irish dancing was a big part of her life from the age of six.
“One day my dad showed me a video of Riverdance and from then on my heart was hooked and I am still continuing with Irish dancing at the age of 21.”
It was an honor to be chosen to represent New Zealand, and winning “10 new friends who were some of the smartest and most talented, kind girls I've met in my life” made the competition a “meaningful experience “, she said.
Mrs O'Grady was grateful to have been chosen and vowed to use the opportunity to promote “self-development and self-confidence” in young girls.
“Kelsey Wallace, our 2023 Rose, shared how much this competition experience had helped her grow as a person and develop skills in her everyday life.
“We have a program called the Rose Buds, our little helpers from ages 6 to 10 who help us on stage.
“I would like to think that we are really positive role models for them and that we can be women that they look up to and want to be like.”
By Nina Tapu