New Galway Rose blooms as she lives out her dream

By Bernie Ní Fhlatharta

Since Anna de Paor was a child growing up in Australia, she dreamed of being on the stage of the Dome at Tralee being interviewed for the Rose of Tralee competition.

That dream is coming very close to reality for Anna, who works as a Department Manager for Born’s Lipsy brand in their Newtownsmyth store.

On Saturday night, she was selected from a number of other young women to represent Galway at the regional finals in Portlaoise in June. If she wins there, her childhood dream will certainly come true.Now living on the Headford Road, Anna was only ten when her parents, Louis and Shirley came home to Ireland to settle in Oughterard. Louis is an Irish language poet and academic based in NUIG.

The eldest of five children – all redheads like their parents – Anna graduated with a BA in English and History from the University of Limerick and an MA in International Human Rights from NUIG.

She has also lived in Spain for six months teaching English and lived another six months in Poland, where she hoped to master the language but didn’t. But she is a fluent Irish speaker.

Three years ago, she took a job as a sales assistant in Born and discovered she loved it so much that she jumped at the opportunity to become a Department Manager, which not only involves sales but buying in stock.

She would love to do something with her MA and says she might get the chance if she becomes the Rose of Tralee!

“Sure, it’s every little girl’s dream to be a Rose and I’m thrilled that I am now the Galway Rose though, obviously, I would hope to go further. They were a great bunch of girls that I got to know over the past few weeks and it’s true what they say, there is a lovely atmosphere about the Rose contest.

“I have enjoyed taking part so far,” she says as she greets a few friends who have come into her workplace, Born, to congratulate her. Born are sponsoring her for the Rose.

Anna’s granny used to send a VHS copy of the annual Rose of Tralee event to the family in Australia, so Anna fantasised from a young age about wearing a ball gown and being interviewed on stage. Being a fluent Irish speaker, she will have no trouble communicating with show host, Daithí Ó Sé!

Anna, aged 27, was interviewed by Galway Bay FM’s Ollie Turner on Saturday night on the stage of the Carlton Shearwater Hotel in Ballinasloe and eventually chosen by the judges from a selection of 25 finalists.

Over the years Anna has been heavily involved in volunteering work, including fundraising for Special Olympics Ireland, assisting in an after-school programme for Traveller children, and regularly participates in the Trocaire 24-hour fast.

For more, read this week's Galway City Tribune.