Carlow Rose had made 'friends for life'

“It feels a little bit surreal to be back in work today,” said Carlow Rose Katie Ryan as she spoke about her Rose of Tralee experience, adding: “I'm used to having a full group of nearly 64 of us together all the time!” 

Katie has returned to her role with Hockey Ireland as equality, diversity and inclusion co-ordinator, and is looking forward to resuming her own business, teaching yoga. Still, she admits she will miss the friendships formed during her Rose journey.

Reflecting on the homecoming event in Portlaoise for Katelyn Cummins, the Laois Rose crowned winner last Tuesday, Katie recalled: “We had maybe 24 hours away from each other and we all missed each other so much. You'd swear we were separated for years because we were so used to being around each other. It was just so nice to be back together again on Saturday night. 

“When you go through something as unique as the Rose of Tralee Festival, you definitely come out with friends for life, one hundred percent."

Plans for reunions are already under way, with some Roses heading to Electric Picnic together while others, without tickets, are organising a get-together in Dublin.

For Katie, one of the standout moments was the parade, and the sheer support from the public: “Before the main parade on Saturday night, even before we got into the town, people were already lining the streets, coming up to take pictures. I just couldn’t get over the fact that people had been waiting hours just to see us and to wave at us. 

“Then when we got into the town there were crowds of thousands of people. The support, and especially the parade itself, was just magical.” 

She described one moment in particular that has stayed with her. 

“At the end of the parade they let off fireworks, and it was just the Roses, the escorts, and all the rosebuds and rose buddies standing together underneath. I had to stop and look up at it all. It was one of those moments you knew you were going to remember forever.”