The group of girls taking part in the Meath Rose selection at Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim, on Saturday night. Missing from the photo are Orlagh O'Reilly, Elaine Kavanagh, Treasa Sheridan and Katie Young.

New Meath 'rose' to be crowned this weekend

Noelle Finegan

Published: Thu 19 May 2016, 5:18 PM

Last updated: Thu 19 May 2016, 6:32 PM

The next Meath Rose to represent the Royal County in the Rose of Tralee Festival and follow in the footsteps of current Meath Rose Elysha Brennan will be crowned at the Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim, on Saturday night.

Elysha, who was the first Meath rose to make to the festival, described being crowned the 2015 International Rose of Tralee as a 'life-changing moment' and it has been an incredible year for her ever since.

This Saturday, 21st May, the Meath Rose Centre will be selecting a new Meath Rose for 2016 to follow in Elysha’s footsteps.

The centre said it has been overwhelmed with applications from the county and, as a result, has compiled a group of 17 young women all hoping to vie for the title of Meath Rose 2016.

The Rose entrants vary in age, profession and experience – from nurses to accountants and everything in between, with talented footballers, musicians and actors among the group.

MC for the night will be LMFM’s Gerry Kelly.

The winner will travel to the International Rose of Tralee Festival where, along with 66 other Roses selected from around the world, they will partake in the one of Ireland’s best-known international festivals.

The 17 young women hoping to be crowned the next Meath Rose are: Lauren Gallagher, Emma Dowd, Luna Orofiamma, Suzanne O’Callaghan, Niamh Stapleton, Michelle Kenny, Nicole Gough, Ciara Swaine, Sarah Moynihan, Niamh O’Brien, Nicole Smyth, Elaine Roseann Kavanagh, Katie Young, Shauna Martin, Orlagh Reilly, Rachel McHugh and Treasa Sheridan.