Ratoath Rose to represent Meath

Ratoath's Sarah McCann was selected as the 2010 Meath Rose of Tralee on Easter Sunday night. Fourteen "amazing" Roses from all over the county entered the Meath Rose of Tralee, and master of ceremonies Brendan Hennessy took each through their paces on Sunday evening. The new Rose is a qualified dietitian who runs her own clinic in Ashbourne, as well as lecturing. Sarah has spent time travelling the world alone and has volunteered to work with children in India, along with raising funds for charities at home. She is a big fan of Meath GAA, is a keen swimmer and has enjoyed horseriding since she was a child. The Ratoath Rose representative is delighted to have been selected as the Meath Rose 2010 and says she is looking forward to the regional finals in Portlaoise and meeting all the other Roses from across the country. There were many talents diplayed by Roses on Sunday night, inclduing Suzanne Drake, who sang the Mary Black classic, 'Katie'; Nicola Carpenter, who performed an Irish reel; Nicole Brady, who played a self-composed piece on the piano, and Emily Whyte, who read a poem written by her mother. Sarah McCann read a poem 'Everywhere', given to her by some of her students. The regional Rose of Tralee finals will take place in the Heritage Hotel, Portlaoise, on the June Bank Holiday weekend, where Sarah will meet 29 other Irish Roses, and six Irish Roses will be selected to go forward from there to the International Festival in Tralee in August. Also selected on the night was escort Gearoid Rennicks. Gearoid was one of six escorts that took part in the Meath Rose of Tralee selection process and he will go straight to the International Festival in Tralee in August. The Meath Rose of Tralee organisers have thanked all the sponsors, the Newgrange Hotel, the Meath Chronicle, LMFM, Ollie & Mac and the individual sponsors of the Roses.