Derry Rose hopeful, Eiméar Anderson says she feels ‘so honoured’ to be representing her county in the upcoming Rose of Tralee selection event.
The Glenullin woman was speaking after she was chosen as the 2015 Derry Rose.
The 19 year-old won the title from a line-up of 11 women during the selection night which was held in the White Horse Hotel in Campsie on March 28.
Eiméar, a teaching student at St Mary’s University College in Belfast, said becoming a Rose is something she has always dreamt of.
“From I was no age the Rose of Tralee was always a big thing for my family. Every summer we would sit down to watch it together. I remember it was always the last big thing before we went back to school so it has always been a massive part of my life,” said the former Loreto College student.
Despite having reservations about entering the event initially, Eiméar said it was her mum who encouraged her to send off the application form.
“I was thinking about entering it but then I thought I was quite young for it as I’m only 19 but my family really encouraged me. My mammy said to me ‘what are you waiting on?’ so I sent off the application form and was asked to attend an interview,” said the north Derry beauty.
May 28 to 31 is the next big event for Eiméar as the regional selection takes place in Portlaoise.
During the four days, 70 Roses from all over the world will be whittled down to around 35.
These ladies will then go on to take part in the Rose of Tralee International Festival which runs from August 14 to 18.
See today’s County Derry Post for more on this story.

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