Roses with Cavan connections are in full bloom

Each year Tralee plays host to Roses from all over the world but this year's bouquet boasts several contestants with strong connections to Cavan. Cavan Rose, Tara Cunningham from Cootehill, was one of only six Roses to make it through the Irish regional finals. Tara is currently studying for an MBS in Finance at the Michael Smurfit School of Business and has secured a place in the Bank of Ireland's Capital Markets Graduate Programme and her 2009 Rose bid is sponsored by Cootehill Credit Union. Tara has always been a fan of the Rose of Tralee and was very delighted to enter when the committee, which organises the competition in Cavan, asked her to take part in the competition after they saw her graduation picture in The Anglo-Celt. "I've always admired the festival and watched it, and we've been down a few times." On one of her trips to Tralee, a young Tara met Marty Whelan who presented the selection nights at the time. She asked him for his autograph and only realised after he had gone that he had signed it: "Hi Tara - a future Rose. Marty Whelan." Marty's prediction proved to be true as Tara has sailed through both the local Cavan competition and the Irish Regional finals to become one of the lucky few to represent her area in the 50th anniversary of the Rose of Tralee International Festival. Tara herself is modest and enjoying the experience rather than focusing on the contest. "I'm not looking at it as a competition. I just want to represent Cavan to the best of my ability." Cavan and the population of Cootehill in particular is gearing up to support Tara when she reaches Tralee and last Friday at Gallonray House in Maudabawn a reception was held in her honour. Cavan will be well represented at this extra special 50th anniversary Rose Festival with several of the international Roses boasting Cavan connections. The Luxembourg Rose, Siobhán O'Reilly, is originally from Limerick but her father hails from Seefin in Bailieborough. Her grandmother, Monica O'Reilly still lives in Seefin and Siobhán visited her there recently where she was helpful and down to earth as ever. "I'm very proud of her, she's not one that puts herself forward at all." Monica also had some advice for Siobhán's father in advance of the competition, "I told him, 'You'll have to take out your tux, the camera will be straight on you'." Two other international Roses have Cavan connections, the Queensland and New Jersey Roses can both trace their family back to Cavan. New Jersey Rose Genevieve O'Reilly will be cheered on from Shercock where father is from and her four uncles still live. Her roots have clearly influenced her as she is involved with a group working for peace and understanding between Israeli and Palestinian which is modelled on Northern Irish efforts at peace. Kelly O'Shea is the Queensland Rose and her paternal grandmother, Mary Armstrong, was from Drumcalpin near Butlersbridge. And Derrylin girl, Tara Maguire, will represent Washington DC in the contest. Tara is a sales and marketing executive for the Irish Dairy Board in the US. She covers thousands of miles of the US east coast each month in a Kerrygold branded VW beetle, promoting Kerrygold dairy products with in-store tastings, stocking, merchandising and trade fair attendance among her roles. All of Derrylin's hoping that Tara's links with Kerry will be her lucky charm later this month. This year's Rose of Tralee International Festival looks set to be bigger than ever as the festival organisers celebrate the Golden jubilee. As many as 42 of the 50 Roses of Tralee will be in attendance as the festival takes place from Friday, August 21 to Saturday, August 29. The highlights for most people, of course, are the selection nights on Tuesday, August 25 and Wednesday, August 26 when Ray D'Arcy will interview the Roses live on RTÉ One from 8pm. Could this be Cavan's year?