SHE came, she sang and she made it to Tralee.
Hacketstown’s wonderful Carlow Rose, Jessie Adamson, has become only the second-ever Carlovian to make it all the way to the Dome after a fantastic performance in Tullamore last Sunday night.
Facing a huge crowd and being interviewed by 2FM’s Will Leahy, the national school teacher who works in Knockananna wowed the audience with her witty banter and her splendid delivery of Immortality by Celine Dion.
“It went very, very well, even though I was really nervous,” said a jubilant Jessie on Monday morning after only an hour’s sleep thanks to the lengthy celebrations. “There were 29 girls over the two nights and we spent the whole weekend living in each other’s pockets. They were all amazing. Half of us went on Saturday night and the other half was on Sunday night, and I was nearly as sick as a dog waiting to go on. But the escorts were back stage and they were really great. Then I went on stage and I was grand. It was brilliant to see all the Carlow flags out in the crowd.”
Jessie can now look forward to taking to the stage at the Dome in Tralee, where she will represent her county on live TV in one of the most famous pageants in the world.
But Jessie is taking it all in her stride and looking forward to meeting fellow teacher and gaelgoir Daithí Ó Sé.
“I can’t wait. I’m really looking forward to it and meeting the other Roses and, of course, Daithí Ó Sé who is a fellow teacher and Irish speaker. He seems so laid back as well. Hopefully, there will be great support from Carlow and Knockananna,” she added.
Jessie was one of just six Roses to be selected last Sunday night. Alongside herself, her roommate for the weekend, the Leitrim Rose, was selected, as were the Down, Belfast, Tipperary and Laois Roses.
“Any of the girls could have gone through but it’s just amazing for Carlow. I couldn’t believe that I was picked for Carlow and now I’m going to Tralee,” said Jessie, who was supported on the night by her two teaching colleagues from St Brigid’s in Knockananna, Ann Gartland and Mairead Buttimer, and one of her students Elana Wilson.
For now, though, the Hacketstown native has to get back to reality quick sharp as this morning (Tuesday) there will be a classroom full of admiring students battling for the Carlow Rose’s attention.