White is no longer the only colour for a rose

A FORMER Presidential candidate and founder of the Chernobyl Children’s Project will be cheering on her niece when she makes history by competing in the Rose of Tralee festival.

Adi Roche’s niece, Sinead De Roiste, who is representing Philadelphia, will be the first non-white contestant in the 45-year history of the competition.

The mixed race 25-year-old, who recently took up a job working with Kelloggs International in Michigan, is the daughter of Adi’s brother, former army lieutenant Donal De Roiste - who is separated from her mother, Leah, and lives in Youghal, Co Cork.

“I am looking forward to any questions about me that come up in the competition. I am Irish and I am African-American and I am the first bicultural contestant. I have been living as a bicultural person for 25 years and I’ve never felt uncomfortable. I’ve learned to love me for me,” Ms De Roiste said.

Her aunt said that ever since Sinead was five she had talked about becoming the Rose of Tralee.

“It’s been a life’s ambition for her. She’s a great character and we’re really proud of her. If I was a betting person I’d put a few bob on her to win. I think she has a great chance of winning.

“She’s very articulate and has a great sense of humour. We’ve nicknamed her Roisín Dubh,” Ms Roche added.

More than 30 members of her Irish family and friends from the Chernobyl Children’s Project are planning to travel to Tralee to support Sinead during the competition.

Last year she worked for the project as a public relations advisor and previously as worked as a reporter in the Patriot News in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Ms De Roiste has been honoured by the YMCA for the significant role she played in the Pennsylvania Immigration and Refugee Women’s Network and says that her hero is Nelson Mandela.

Ms Roche said for her party piece in the Tralee Dome, her niece would recite a poem, half of which would be in Irish with the other half in English.