TO PARAPHRASE Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh, who we lost in June: “Róisín Wiley. Her father's from Kilmallock. Her mother's from Templeglantine.
She grew up in America - none of them a Rose stronghold.” But Róisín represented her homeland and New York with style, class and kindness as the Rose of Tralee. Next week the daughter of Majella (née O’Reilly) and Eddie Wiley will hand over the crown.
She has already handed over her New York Rose sash to Billie Cooper. “The last few months as the current International Rose of Tralee have been the perfect culmination to what has been the best year of my life,” said Róisín. One of her final functions was an event close to her and her father’s heart - Eddie is Club Limerick New York chairman and a massive Limerick GAA supporter.
The event in the Woodlands House Hotel was for a cheque presentation on behalf of Club Limerick Global. Pictured (below) on the night is Meg Wiley Curran, Kilmallock with nieces Róisín Wiley and Sarah Fitzgerald. Its aim of “bringing together and connecting Limerick people all around the world in support of our teams” perfectly aligns with Róisín’s time as Rose of Tralee.
She thinks she has made around 24 Aer Lingus flights across the Atlantic - Shannon Airport is like a second home - and had planned to watch Limerick play in the All-Ireland final but Cork put paid to that. “I feel very fulfilled about the two weeks I got to spend driving around Ireland, completing some.