Dia dhuit, Kia ora,
Well, would you look at that – I’m nearly two months into the job as your Community Liaison Officer and what a whirlwind it’s been! Time flies when you’re figuring out where the coffee lives and how to spell “liaison” without checking three times (still a work in progress, honestly).
After the Easter break, I decided to kick off my tenure with a bang by organising my very first event – all by myself, thank you very much. Slightly terrifying? Yes. But I figured between my event experience and blind optimism, I could pull it off. And thus, the Mother’s Day Cookie & Crafting morning was born.
Thanks to everyone who came along – you were an absolutely lovely bunch of parents and kiddos! I did, however, learn a few important lessons… such as: don’t schedule an event on the first Saturday of winter sports. Rookie error. And yes, the lack of sugar for the coffee will haunt me, but rest assured – that little oversight will be sorted next time.
Speaking of next time! I’ve pencilled in a Father’s Day Cookies & Crafts session for Saturday 6th September from 2–4pm, so pop that in the diary. Karli from The Cookie Party Company will be back with more of her fabulous cookie kits for the kids to decorate. It's shaping up to be another sweet one (pun absolutely intended).
Now, moving swiftly on – because there’s no rest for the wicked – we rolled straight into planning for the Rose of Tralee Selection Weekend. And let me tell you, despite knowing a fair bit about Irish traditions (shoutout to my Irish husband), this was my first ever encounter with the Rose of Tralee. Apparently, it’s almost as sacred as the Late Late Toy Show. Emphasis on almost. Calm down, Toy Show fans – I said ALMOST. (For the uninitiated, the Late Late Toy Show is an Irish cultural phenomenon that deserves its own blog. Maybe in December. If you're lucky.)
Back to the Roses! While most of the heavy-lifting was handled by Kieran, our Exec team and Suzanne from Event Professionals, I had a different role that weekend: Mum. My daughter Brielle was a Rosebud, paired with the wonderful Ciara Jo Hanlon. Now, when Miss 7 asked me what a Rosebud actually does, I may or may not have had to consult ChatGPT (don’t judge me – this is a safe space). I also had a bit of an existential moment: Is the Rose of Tralee still relevant in 2025?
Spoiler alert: Yes. Absolutely. 1000% yes.
The moment we arrived at the first event on Thursday night, where the Rosebuds met their Roses, I was completely won over. These young women were incredible – smart, kind, passionate, and genuinely inspiring. Brielle was in awe of Ciara Jo from the get-go. Honestly? So was I. Her warmth, her sparkle, and the way she connected with everyone was something really special. The judges clearly agreed – she took home the title on Saturday night.
The pairing of Rose and Rosebud was especially meaningful because Ciara, like Brielle speaks fluent Gaeilge. The moment they discovered this shared connection, a lovely bond formed between them, one rooted in a language that holds deep cultural pride and identity. Ciara told Brielle that Gaeilge would be their “superpower” for the weekend, a moment that lit up Miss 7. Brielle on Thursday night very confidently declared that “CJ” was going to win — and she was right!
As I drove a very tired (but very happy) 7-year-old home from the Addington Events Centre from the Ball on Saturday night, I thought back to my early doubts. Is the Rose of Tralee still relevant? After meeting these amazing young women, hearing their stories and their passion for making a difference in the world, I’m confident in saying: absolutely.
If these are the role models my daughter wants to look up to, then I’m all in.
On the way home she said, “Mum, I want to be a Rose one day.” And honestly? That just says it all.
Huge congratulations to Ciara Jo – we’ll be cheering you on all the way! 🌹
Stay tuned next month for the blog you didn’t know you needed – brought to you by Kylee Dillane, your trusty Community Liaison Officer
