ROSE OF TRALEE: Winner seeks flight change for GAA clash
From Shrule, in Co Mayo, she makes no secret of her loyalties — even when she’s in the heart of the Kingdom — and has predicted Mayo will win the Sam Maguire cup in September.
Attending the Killarney Races with other Roses and their escorts last evening, she enjoyed banter with Kerry fans who were equally confident of their team’s chances.
The 27-year-old brunette, who works as a studio manager for Anthropologie, a clothing and lifestyle brand, is due to fly back on Sunday to be at her desk on Monday morning. “But, I’d do anything to be at the game,’’ she told the Irish Examiner.
“All the family are avid about football, and my brother, Kevin played with Mayo. I also play ladies’ football with the Notre Dames in Philadelphia.’’
After their hectic week in Tralee, a thoroughly composed Maria and the other girls chilled out in the sunshine as guests of Killarney Race Company at the opening of the four-day August meeting.
‘’The whole thing hasn’t really hit me yet. It’s an unbelievable experience,’’ she said as she posed for photographs with admirers and chatted easily with all who came her way. Everyone wanted to see the new Rose close-up, and some were curious about the stunning dress she wore for the televised selection programme, which caught the eye of many viewers.
She revealed it was specially-made for her by a friend, Megan Swanson, an up-and-coming designer in Philadelphia. Maria was among the favourites to win the title, being backed at odds of 6/1. Fashionistas, meanwhile, will be out again on Saturday for Ladies’ Day, in Killarney, and will be trying impress celebrity judge, TV3’s Sinead Desmond, to win a €1,500 Littlewoods Ireland shopping spree and the Best-Dressed Lady title.
She’s already attracted widespread attention due to her more modern look than previous winners, but despite the publicity there is a traditional reason behind the most eye-catching part of her image.
New Rose of Tralee Maria Walsh is the first winner in the competition’s 56-year history to have prominent tattoos on her body.
The 27-year-old brunette has three small ladybird tattoos on her neck, which are in honour of her 19-year-old cousin Teresa Molloy, who tragically passed away five years ago.
In one of the worst road traffic accidents to ever occur in Ireland, the teen lost her life in November 2009 in an accident which also killed three of her friends.
While travelling on a Christmas shopping trip, the four were involved in a collision with another car near Milltown in Co Galway.
After the crash, Maria — who was close to her cousin — asked for the tattoos of the creatures her relative loved to keep her memory alive. Five years on, the Boston native and Philadelphia rose said this is the hidden message behind the symbols.
Maria also has a quote from Buddha’s Little Instruction Book tattooed on her right forearm: ‘The trouble is, you think you have time.’
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Rose of Tralee Maria Walsh will take on the ice bucket challenge at 11.15am in Tralee town park today.
Ms Walsh was nominated by comedian and RTÉ radio presenter Jennifer Maguire, who in turn had been nominated by Ryan Tubridy.
A Rose Festival source said fellow roses, escorts and even host Dáithí Ó Sé could be nominated again by Maria as part of the charity drive.
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