As my sister Julie potters around the kitchen, packing away her college books for the summer, our 91-year-old grandmother Philomena recites: “No rose without its thorn they say, too true the whole world knows. But may you find on life’s highway, no thorn without its rose.”

Julie smiles: “She always said that to us growing up. The rose is viewed as the most beautiful flower. However, it doesn’t get to what it is without a few bumps in the road.”

PRIORITIES

There is never a dull day on our family beef and tillage farm, tucked away in the foothills of Mt Leinster in Wexford. I laugh with my sister Julie as we remember back when she had her hair and makeup done for a Rose event a number of weeks ago and the cattle broke out.

“I was drenched and everything got ruined. I even went head first into a puddle. It wasn’t the end of the world though and the cattle were all right. Some things just have to take priority over others. We just went home and started the preparations again,” she says.

The Rose of Tralee is something that Julie has hoped to be a part of since she was a little girl.

“When I was very small, our village held a fundraiser that invited locals to take part in a fancy dress. I decided that I wanted to be the Rose of Coolree, the townland where I am from. My mother, Maime, insisted that my brother escorted me as well,” Julie smiles.

At 26, it was a case of now or never for Julie, as the closing age for the festival is 27. Having just completed her master’s, Julie felt that she now had the time to dedicate to the process.

“If you are lucky enough to become ambassador for your rose centre, it is a yearlong role. It is something that I take great pride in and I intend to promote Wexford and the Rose of Tralee festival in the best light possible,” she says.

THE NEXT STEP

So what’s next for Julie as she embarks on her Rose journey?

“I’m looking forward to getting out and about in the county and experiencing all the cultural events that Wexford has to offer,” she says. “I am very excited to meet some of our escorts as well as the other Rose ambassadors. We have lots of activities planned together in the run-up to the festival itself.”

As for Julie’s favourite part of the experience thus far?

“The support I have received from my family, local community and people around me has been absolutely phenomenal,” she responds. “To have little girls view you as a role model is so special and makes the experience all the more worthwhile.”

Irish Country Living will follow Julie in the lead-up to the festival, but for further information on all things Rose related, visit www.roseoftralee.ie CL