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The new Kerry Rose for 2024 will be selected this Friday night at the Height Hotel in Killarney. It’s time to meet the contestants…
Alanna Starnes
Alanna Starnes
Alanna Starnes (22) is a proud native of Laois who found her heart in the beauty of The Kingdom and now calls Kenmare home. She leads as Front Office Manager in Sheen Falls Lodge, a role deeply rooted in her upbringing in the hospitality life.
Introduced to the hospitality world from her first steps and embracing the fast-paced industry, she completed her degree in Bachelor of Business in International Hotel Management and Hospitality Management in 2023.
During the hustle, she finds solace in singing, a passion she has nurtured since primary school. Notably, she and her sister serenaded their social media followers daily during the first Covid-19 lockdown, even gracing the TV screens twice.
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AMANDA O’SULLIVAN
Amanda O’Sullivan
Amanda O’Sullivan (22) is from Dromid, near the scenic coastal village of Waterville. She is a 4th Year Bachelor of Education student in Mary Immaculate College and is set to graduate next October. She was recently selected as the Skellig Coast Community Rose and works part-time as a waitress in the Lobster Bar, who sponsored her.
Amanda aims to teach in a Scoil lán-Ghaeilge as she is passionate about Irish and has been a teacher of the Aonad lán-Ghaeilge summer camp for many years. She enjoys traditional Irish singing and set dancing and has competed in many competitions over the years.
Amanda is a social butterfly who likes meeting new people and seizing all opportunities that come her way, starting with this year’s Kerry Rose Selection.
Aoibhe Joy
Aoibhe Joy
Aoibhe Joy (21) is a vivacious young woman hailing from Ballybunion, Co. Kerry. She is completing her undergraduate studies in UCC and plans to pursue a master’s degree in Play Therapy.
During the day, she works at Aras Mhuire Nursing Home where she recently won a charity event in aid of the home, the Listowel Community Rose. Apart from her commitments, Aoibhe loves to unwind by visiting the mesmerising Ballybunion beaches, playing football for her local club, Beale GAA and exploring Kerry’s scenic landscapes with her friends.
With her outgoing personality, Aoibhe is always open to new experiences and enjoys travelling. With the unwavering support of her family, she is excited about what this journey entails.
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Aoife O’Sullivan
Aoife O’Sullivan
Aoife O’Sullivan (25) is a primary school teacher hailing from the picturesque parish of Churchill. Aoife has a huge interest in sport, both as a participant and a spectator, and is a member of the Abbeydorney Ladies Football team as well as the Cillard Camogie team.
She also helps to coach Cillard’s youngest stars- the U6/U8 team on Saturday mornings. Aoife enjoys playing music and has performed in many community events, she has a grá for Gaeilge and also enjoys helping out on the family farm.
Aoife is looking forward to taking part in the Kerry Rose Selection this year and is grateful to have the opportunity to honour Ashling Murphy as part of the experience.
Claudia Ward
Claudia Ward
A native of Tralee, Claudia Ward (23) holds a degree in Microbiology from UCC and is completing her second degree in Quality Management Systems with Data Analytics at MTU this year. Returning to Tralee after university to work at Kerry Dairy Ireland, the Rose of Tralee Festival has always been a cherished part of her life.
A pure Kerry girl at heart, she is committed to making a positive impact in both her local community by volunteering with The Irish Girl Guides and MS Ireland and on a broader scale by volunteering with The European Solidarity Corps.
Her dedication to effecting positive change has earned her the opportunity to represent Ireland in a European Union initiative showcasing female leadership.
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Debora Canty
Debora Canty
Debora Canty (21) resides in Causeway, next to the stunning Meenogahane. Debora recently finished her fourth year at MTU studying Social Care and has received a Social Care Ireland Award.
Debora now works in the Family Resource Centre in the lovely Ballyheigue and a Children’s Residential in Kerry. Debora adores her job and the children she works with. In the upcoming year or two, Debora intends to pursue a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy and continue working with young people.
Debora loves spending time with her friends and family, meeting new people and trying new things. In the last year Debora has found a love for exercising and getting outside and loves to take her two dogs with her.
Emer Dineen
Emer Dineen
Emer Dineen (23) is from charming Castlegregory in Co. Kerry. Having graduated University College Dublin, Emer is now a paediatric radiographer based in Temple Street hospital, covering both Tallaght and Connolly’s paediatric wings.
A love of working with and helping children was furthered when lifeguarding in the summers off from college. Emer loves Gaeilge and more recently has begun learning Irish Sign Language, which has arisen from a desire to better understand Lámh- a manual sign system designed to help people with communication in Ireland.
Volunteering at Barretstown is very important to Emer and her family. The sense of fun and adventure there is magic! Emer loves meeting new people and trying different experiences.
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Emma Browne
Emma Browne
Emma Browne (20) is living in Scartaglin, Co. Kerry. Emma graduated from Kerry College of Beauty in 2023 with an ITEC and CIBTAC qualification.
Emma is currently working in Marion’s Beauty Salon, Castleisland, as a full time beautician. Emma loves to go for drives and walks in her spare time and can often be found strolling the sandy beach of Inch. Emma loves to socialise and meet with her friends and family.
Emma also loves meeting new clients and enjoys the energy they bring to the salon. She enjoys making them feel beautiful in their own skin, whether it’s nails, eyebrows, or facials.
Grace Kearney
Grace Kearney
Grace Kearney (25) is a proud north Kerry woman from Ballyduff. As one of six children, Grace grew up in a lively farming household that was never short of a character visiting.
This came in very useful in her chosen career as a Home Economics and Religious Education teacher in St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Ballybunion.
As well as learning the concertina, Grace enjoys going for walks and playing football with Abbeydorney Ladies Football team. Grace has grown up watching the Rose of Tralee every year and so, is delighted to get the opportunity to partake in the Kerry Rose Selection.
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Iminathi Siphungu
Iminathi Siphungu
Iminathi Siphungu (18) was born in South Africa and is living in Listowel. A full-time student, Iminathi is in 6th Year in Presentation Secondary School, Listowel.
She is currently studying for her leaving cert exams and hopes to become a solicitor in the future. Iminathi has a love of sports, going to the gym, dancing, music and singing. She also has a passion for fashion and self-expression.
She enjoys spending time with loved ones and friends, helping others and making a positive impact in her community. Iminathi is delighted to have Mayfair Healthcare as her sponsor and is looking forward to Selection Night!
KATRINA GALVIN
Katrina Galvin
Katrina Galvin (29) from London has strong Irish roots between Kerry, Cork and Wexford. Katrina grew up in Kerry, becoming a strong advocate for dance and performing arts in the county.
She has a BA Hons. in Voice and Dance from University Limerick and professional dance training from Trinity Laban Conservatoire, London. Katrina is a qualified ballet teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance and is also a classical soprano.
Her love for teaching and inspiring children’s love for dance and performance brought her to open her own school, Sparrow Academy of Dance and Stage. Katrina won the “Rising Star” award in the Connect Kerry Women Business Awards.
She loves dancing, singing and performing and is always thankful for the support of family and friends. Katrina wishes all the Rose entrants the very best of luck!
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Lorraine Lawlor
Lorraine Lawlor
Lorraine Lawlor (26) lives in Tralee. She graduated from the Munster Technological University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Business majoring in Management. Lorraine is currently working in The Bank Of Ireland as a Mortgage Services Specialist.
She loves to go walking in her spare time and can often be found strolling the sandy beaches of Banna and Ballyheigue. Lorraine also enjoys attending spinning and boxing classes in the Kerry Sports Academy.
She loves to socialise and meet with her friends. Lorraine is a volunteer with ALONE and enjoys her weekly visits to her client.
NICOLE O’CONNOR
Nicole O’Connor
Nicole O’Connor (28) is from the beautiful town of Listowel. For the past four years she has worked in Aldi, Listowel, where her career has progressed significantly becoming deputy store manager within her first two years.
About four years ago, she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease which has had a huge impact on her life. Colitis Ireland helped her with understanding her diagnosis and because of this she has done an abseil of Croke Park and is planning a skydive with the Irish Parachute Club in Tulllamore, Co. Offaly, both in aid of Colitis Ireland.
She has raised just under €2,500 and hopes to continue to raise more in the future. An adventurer at heart, Nicole loves to travel and has a dream of travelling to two new places every year. She also loves to explore new beaches by walking along the shore with her two nephews on either hand.
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Sara Ní Chualáin
Sarah Ní Chualáin
Sarah Ní Chualáin (20) from Ballyferriter is currently studying Speech and Language Therapy in University of Galway.
Having just finished her second year, Sarah aspires to work as a Speech and Language Therapist at home and abroad in the future. Currently, she plays basketball in Galway and football at home with Cumann Peil Ban Daingean Uí Chúis.
She loves travelling and hopes to visit as many countries as possible once she finishes her degree. She would be honoured to represent the Kingdom as the 2024 Kerry Rose as she has been inspired by many Roses over the years and would love to be that inspiration for another young girl.
Sarah has really enjoyed these past few weeks, getting to meet new people and share some amazing experiences with all of the other Kerry Rose entrants.
Shauna Dineen
Shauna Dineen
Shauna Dineen (23), from Causeway, is an English and Geography teacher. She qualified in 2023 and has been teaching in Cork City ever since. She loves to share her knowledge of both subjects with her students and is very passionate about guiding them toward their full potential. Her dedication extends beyond the classroom, as she collaborated last year with the Irish brand Gym Plus Coffee on a project related to mental and physical health. Shauna is currently training for a half marathon, so many of her weekends are spent running in Kerry, taking in the scenic views.
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