This article is from page 8 of the 2014-06-03 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
AFTER nearly a decade in the doldrums, Clare Roses are starting to get accustomed to the lavish surroundings of the Festival Dome in Tralee. Joanne O’Groman made it two years in a row for Clare participants, when she qualified for the grand final of the Rose of Tralee competition on Sunday night.
The Cratloe native follows in the foot steps of Marie Donnellan from Newmarket-on-Fergus, who last year was Clare’s first competitor in the final stages of the competition since 2006.
There was disappointment for Dawn Ryan from Meelick, however, the Clare born, Limerick Rose narrowly missed out on the August final. Had she made it, it would have been the first time that two Clare born Roses would have competed together at the grand final.
Speaking after her selection, Joanne paid tribute to the support of Marie Donnellan.
“I’m over the moon. I don’t think it has sunk in yet to be honest. I’ll wake up tomorrow and it’s just going to be surreal. I’d say my phone is hopping off the bed up in my room at the moment, I don’t have the energy to look at it,” she said.
“The support and the good wishes that I’ve got up to now has been amazing. Just to be selected as the Clare Rose was amazing and now to go on to Tralee, it’s a dream come true.
“Marie has been a great support. First and foremost she said to just enjoy it, especially the Portlaoise section that I’ve just come through now. I plan on enjoying it. She said the same for Tralee as well. She said it is absolutely amazing.
“She also advised me to buy a foot spa as well. To plug it in every night when I get back from each of the tours – so I plan on buying a foot spa.”