The Rose of Tralee International Festival will return to our screens on Monday, August 21.
The annual competition will celebrate its 62nd year this year, and interviews with all 32 Roses will be broadcast live from the Kerry Sports Academy in Tralee for the second time ever.
The festival, hosted by Dáithà Ó Sé and Kathryn Thomas, will air on Monday and Tuesday night on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
The 32 International Roses represent the Irish diaspora worldwide including, Ireland, Britain, United States, Canada, Australia and the Middle East.
Ahead of the 2023 festival, here’s everything you need to know about this year’s contestants:
Antrim Rose – Mollie O’Brien
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Mollie O’Brien, 22, hails from Ballymena in Co. Antrim.
The Antrim Rose is in her fourth year studying Dentistry at Queen’s University in Belfast.
Arizona Rose – Ashley Jackson
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Ashley Jackson is 25 years old.
The Arizona native works her day job as a digital communications coordinator for the Graduate College, while also pursuing two master’s degrees, one in Psychology at Grand Canyon University and the other in Library and Information Science at the University of Arizona.
Boston & New England Rose – Fiona Weir
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Fiona Weir, 23, hails from Boston, Massachusetts.
The Boston & New England Rose has a BS in Nursing, and is now working as a full-time medical/surgical nurse at a public hospital in Boston.
Carlow Rose – Caoimhe Deering
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Caoimhe Deering is 22 years old.
The Carlow native works as a second school teacher in geography and english.
Chicago Rose – Kelley Leyden
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Kelley Leyden is 28 years old.
The Chicago Rose is a full-time Chicago police officer, and works part-time as a radiologic technologist.
Clare Rose – Aisling O’Connor
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Aisling O’Connor, 25, hails from Feakle in Co. Clare.
The Clare Rose has worked as a primary school teacher in Crumlin, Co. Dublin for the past three years.
Cork Rose – Kate Shaughnessy
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Kate Shaughnessy, 25, hails from Ballincollig in Co. Cork.
The Cork Rose has Bachelor of Social Science degree from University College Cork, and now works as a care coordinator in Norwood Grange Nursing Home in Ballinora.
Down Rose – Nadine Downey
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Nadine Downey is 23 years old.
The Down native wants to pursue a career in post-primary education, after graduating with a degree in Drama and English.
Dublin Rose – Bethany Cushing
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Bethany Cushing, 27, originally hails from Ballyhea in Co. Cork, but grew up in the Falkhand Island, London, Co. Cork and finally settled in Co. Dublin.
The Dublin Rose has worked as a radiation therapist for St Luke’s Radiation Oncology Network and has also worked in cancer research.
The 27-year-old is about to commence her fourth year as a medical student in the Royal College of Surgeons.
Germany Rose – Megan Wolf
Megan Wolf is 27 years old.
The Germany Rose is on the cusp of completing a Political Science graduate programme, focusing on Europe.
Kerry Rose – Kelsey Lang McCarthy
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Kelsey Lang McCarthy, 22, hails from Cahersiveen, Co.Kerry.
The Kerry Rose is going into the final year of her Podiatric Medicine degree in the National University of Galway.
Laois Rose – Sinead Dowd
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Sinead Down, 25, was born and raised in New York.
Now living in Cullohill, Co. Laois, Sinead is a secondary school teacher in geography and english.
Limerick Rose – Molli-Ann O’Halloran
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Molli-Ann O’Halloran, 19, hails from Limerick City.
The Limerick Rose works in Bunratty Castle as an Irish traditional singer.
London Rose – Amy Gillen
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Amy Gillen, 27, hails from Co. Donegal but has lived in London for the past few years.
The London Rose graduated from the RIAM and the Royal College of Music London with a Distinction Masters in Music in Jazz and Classical Flute.
She now teaches music at the Westminster Performing Arts School based at St Andrew’s Youth Club in Westminster.
Longford Rose – Grace Kemple
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Grace Kemple is 23 years old.
The Longford Rose is a registered general nurse, and is doing a Higher Diploma in Midwifery in Trinity College Dublin.
Mayo Rose – Kate Heneghan
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Kate Heneghan, 27, hails from Castlebar, Co. Mayo.
She works as a classical content specialist for global music streaming platforms, having received a Masters degree in Music Composition from Ulster University.
The Mayo Rose is an early favourite to win the Rose of Tralee 2023.
Meath Rose – Lane Galvin
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Lane Galvin is 26 years old.
The Meath Rose works as a midwife in the Midwifery Led Unit in Drogheda Hospital.
Melbourne Rose – Katie Casey
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Katie Casey, 28, was born and raised in Causeway, Co. Kerry.
The Melbourne Rose, who works as a registered nurse supporting clients with complex disabilities and mental health, emigrated to New England back in 2018 before settling in Melbourne.
New York Rose – RóisÃn Wiley
RóisÃn Wiley, 27, lives in Manhattan.
The New York Rose is a VP of National Sales at a consumer marketing company, managing a territory of OTC and Pharmaceutical accounts.
New Zealand Rose – Kelsi Wallace
Kelsi Wallace, 27, was born and bred in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
The New Zealand Rose works in musculoskeletal injury prevention at Silver Fern Farms and has focused largely on Biomechanics and Exercise Prescription throughout both her student and working career.
Offaly Rose – Allie Leahy
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Allie Leahy, 24, hails from Kinnitty, Co. Offaly.
The Offaly Rose work as a receptionist at Tullamore Pet Hospital.
Ottawa Rose – Aoife McDonald
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Aoife McDonald, 27, was born and raised in Ottawa.
The Ottawa Rose has a Bachelor of Arts Combined Honours in History and Political Science with a Concentration in International Relations, and a Minor in French and a Bachelor of Education.
Philadelphia Rose – Marissa Berry
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Marissa Berry is 29 years old.
The Philadelphia Rose works as an insurance underwriter for weddings and other special events across the United States.
Queensland Rose – Imogen Weston-Kelly
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Imogen Weston-Kelly is 22 years old.
The Queensland Rose works as a social worker at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.
San Francisco Rose – Katie McFadden
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Katie McFadden, 22, lives in San Francisco, California.
She works as a firefighter for the state of California.
South Australia Rose – Charlotte Burton
Charlotte Burton, 27, hails from Adelaide, South Australia.
She’s a multi-disciplinary artist, working primarily in video content creation, working at The Growing Space.
Sydney Rose – Aoife Butler
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Aoife Butler, 28, hails from Co. Wexford.
Since moving to Australia in 2019, she had worked as a mental health clinical nurse educator in St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, while also studying an MA in Mental Health.
Texas Rose – Eden Kasprak
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Eden Kasprak, 25, was born and raised in Austin, Texas.
The Texas Rose works at a Country Dance Hall and a family-owned Country Western store.
Toronto Rose – Erica Daly
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Erica Daly is 24 years old.
The Toronto Rose recently completed a Bachelor of Commerce in Integrated Business and Humanities, followed by a Master of Environment and Sustainability.
She works at a local College in the Energy and Power Innovation Centre as a Project Manager.
Washington DC Rose – Siobhán Spiak
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Siobhán Spiak is 29 years old.
The Washington DC Rose was born and raised in Arizona before moving to Washington DC.
Western Canada Rose – London Prusko
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London Prusko, 29, lives in Edmonton, Ab, Canada.
The Western Canada Rose is a Registered Dental Assistant working as a clinical sleep assistant, diagnosing and treating patients with Obstructive Sleep apnea.
Wexford Rose – Brónagh Hogan
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Brónagh Hogan, 25, hails from Killegney, Co. Wexford.
The Wexford Rose teaches in Kilrane NS, after graduating with Bachelor of Education from Mary Immaculate College.
