EchoLive.ie, 24 May
As part of our WoW! 20th anniversary celebrations, featuring 20 Cork
women in the spotlight in 2023, CHRIS DUNNE caught up with the recently
crowned Cork Rose
Cork Rose: My parents met at Tralee festival when they were 15
Newly crowded Cork Rose Kate Shaughnessy from Ballincollig ,
representing Norwood Grange at the selection night, at the Metropole
Hotel, Cork city. Picture; Eddie O'Hare
Chris Dunne
THE newly crowned Cork Rose, Kate Shaughnessy, from Ballincollig, was
always a budding Rose.
“My family had a mobile home outside Tralee,” says Kate, 25.
“I was always there with my parents, and I had a ‘rose’ book to collect
the autographs of the Roses when they came to town. I was fascinated by
them.”
Kate bloomed to become a Rose herself.
“When my name as the Cork Rose was announced on Saturday night, it was
one of those wow! moments,” she says. “I’m still overwhelmed; it’s like
a dream come true!”
Leading up to the Rose selection, Kate got into the mood in her
workplace, Norwood Grange Care Home, where she works as care
co-ordinator.
“We had afternoon tea and all 30 residents dressed up, wearing their
own sash saying where they were from,” says Kate.
“After tea, all the families joined us; it was a very special
afternoon.”
The residents of Norwood Grange stayed up late on Saturday night to
hear the wonderful news that Kate was selected as the Cork Rose 2023.
“Norwood Grange was my first stop on Sunday morning after the Cork Rose
selection, there were lots of tears and hugs,” says Kate.
It brought a lot of joy to Norwood, and I was still on a complete high.
Kate, who has two brothers and one sister, always wanted to work in the
caring profession.
“I didn’t get enough points for nursing in my Leaving Cert,” she says.
“So, I did a pre-nursing course for one year in the College of
Commerce. That was in 2016. After that I got into UCC, studying social
science for three years. I loved college life, and I made great friends
there.
“During my final year, the end of Covid, I worked part-time in
Ballincollig Community Nursing Unit. I became full-time and spent five
years working there. I loved it.”
Kate, Activity Coordinator, made sure the residents’ enjoyed
interaction with others during Covid and won a special recognition
award from Mowlam Healthcare for her outstanding efforts keeping
residents engaged.
“I did a lot of social and activity care during Covid, making videos,
organising window visits, and organising family visits when visits were
restricted. There were 100 residents, so it was a lot of work.”
The Cork Roses contestants with Jenny Byrne, Cork Rose 2022. Picture;
Eddie O'Hare The Cork Roses contestants with Jenny Byrne, Cork Rose
2022. Picture; Eddie O'Hare
The residents appreciated Kate’s caring.
“I was nominated for the award by the residents and their families,”
she says.
“I love my work and Ballincollig Community Nursing Unit was a great
place to work. I moved to Norwood Grange last June and they sponsored
me to go into the Cork selection for the Rose of Tralee.
The care home is small with a family feel to it, the same staff are
there for years. My main job is ensuring the residents’ wellbeing.
"I run activity programmes and do some of the activities myself. We
like playing bingo and clients participate in imagination gym training,
which is guided meditation for dementia, and it is very beneficial for
dementia patients.”
The residents of Norwood Grange Care Home bunched together to cheer
Kate on.
“There was a huge build-up to the selection night,” she says.
“There were lots of events leading up to it. The Cork Rose Tour was
really fun, we went to the greyhound track and the Anglers Rest.
Meeting the other girls was great and we were very well looked after.”
Kate looked a million dollars for the special once-in-a-lifetime
occasion.
“My dress was second hand!” she says. “I had my hair done in Salon 28
in Killumney, and my make-up in Bijox, Ballincollig.”
Kate hasanother huge supporter by her side, boyfriend Michael.
“Michael and I have been together for eight years,” she says. “We met
when I was 17 and Michael was 18, and we’ve been together ever since.
We live together in Ovens. Michael is a gentleman.”
Cork Rose Kate Shaughnessy from Ballincollig , with her parents Niamh
and John at the Metropole hotel. They met at the Rose of Tralee.
Picture; Eddie O'Hare Cork Rose Kate Shaughnessy from Ballincollig ,
with her parents Niamh and John at the Metropole hotel. They met at the
Rose of Tralee. Picture; Eddie O'Hare
Kate’s parents, Niamh and John, were also teenage sweethearts.
“They met at the Rose of Tralee when they were 15,” says Kate.
“I lived in Ballincollig all my life until my parents sold their house
and moved back to Tralee in November, 2021.”
They won’t have far to go to support their daughter when she represents
Cork in the Rose of Tralee.
“The host on Saturday night, Ollie, said it was very presumptuous of my
parents to move to Tralee!”
Kate reacting to the announcement that she is the new Cork Rose.
Picture; Eddie O'Hare Kate reacting to the announcement that she is the
new Cork Rose. Picture; Eddie O'Hare
How did Kate feel being named the Cork Rose?
“I was completely stunned,” she admits.
“There were tears in my eyes straight away. Mum and Dad came up on the
stage. They were completely shocked but very proud. Orla and Harry, the
owners of Norwood Grange, were there and other people from the home
too, as well as my family who were all delighted. My sister, Ellen, 15,
was very excited.”
What does it take to be a Rose?
“I think you have to be confident and be able to speak in public, and
the most important thing is to represent your county well. There are
numerous events leading up to the Rose of Tralee in August, the Rose
Tour is probably the highlight, when all the girls from the counties of
Ireland and countries abroad take to the road. I’m looking forward to
re-visiting my secondary school, Colaiste Choilm, and my primary
school, Scoil Barra.”
Kate is proud to represent the Rebel County.
“I hope to do Cork proud, as well as Norwood Grange Care Home and my
family. I’ve made great friends with the girls in the Cork Rose
selection, and we’ll stay in touch.”
Granny Shaughnessy is well in touch with her granddaughter who is
blooming for Cork.
“My granny, Bernie, was the first person to ring me Sunday morning,”
says Kate.
She was blown away and said her phone hadn’t stopped ringing!
No doubt carer Kate will do her county proud.
“I was the Belle of Ballincollig in 2018,” says Kate.
She’s used to the limelight?
“I’m used to the sash!”
Cork held the Rose of Tralee title on three occasions during the
history of the festival: Josie Ruane 1961, Denise Murphy O’Sullivan,
1991, Geraldine O’Grady Finn, 1999. Will 2023 be our year again?
The Cork Roses contestants from left, Jenny Byrne, Cork Rose 2022 ;
Lydia Creedon, Ava Barry and Sorcha Keniry. Picture; Eddie O'Hare The
Cork Roses contestants from left, Jenny Byrne, Cork Rose 2022 ; Lydia
Creedon, Ava Barry and Sorcha Keniry. Picture; Eddie O'Hare
OUTGOING CORK ROSE
Jenny Byrne ended her stint as Cork Rose last Saturday when she handed
over the sash to Kate Shaugnessy.
“The whole year was a bit of a whirlwind,” says the Douglas native.
“It was an incredible year all round. I was so lucky to be part of it.
The Rose tour travelled all around Ireland, coming home here to Cork
and showing all the Roses my beautiful county stands out as one of the
high-lights.
“It was a great opportunity to showcase what Cork had to offer; We had
a gala dinner with family and friends in the Carrigaline Court Hotel,
finishing the next day, Friday, on a high in Tralee.”
Jenny was popular.
“All of the support in Cork was genuinely unbelievable,” says Jenny.
“I really didn’t know the gravity of being the Cork Rose. Cork
businesses were unrivalled during the lead-up to the festival.
All my outfits were sponsored, and it was great to go around all the
Cork shops and talk to the owners and the people who worked there.”
Jenny spent three months in Cambodia after the Rose of Tralee festival,
conducting research for her PhD. She is a field researcher specialising
in employment opportunities for women with disabilities.
“I heard the most incredible stories,” says Jenny.
Judges for the Cork Rose Selena O'Regan, Eoghan Hedderman, events
manager Metropole Hotel and Deborah Barrett at the Metropole hotel.
Picture; Eddie O'Hare Judges for the Cork Rose Selena O'Regan, Eoghan
Hedderman, events manager Metropole Hotel and Deborah Barrett at the
Metropole hotel. Picture; Eddie O'Hare
“Some of the women in Cambodia were not only working to improve their
own lives, but the lives of their entire communities. It was great to
talk to Irish NGOs and in my capacity as Cork rose; it was great to
connect with the Irish diaspora who were really interested in my role
as Cork rose.”
2022 was a memorable year for Jenny.
“Feeling the support of everyone was really special,” she says.
From family, friends, to the local community, there are no words to
describe it. I am so proud to be from Cork and I was so lucky to be on
the international stage.
I made so many friends with the other Roses, that’s one of the reasons
I did it. Being the Cork rose was the best experience of my life.
“I’m looking forward to taking Kate through the motions and seeing how
the experience evolves - no doubt she will make friends from people all
over the world.”
The Rose of Tralee International Festival 2023 returns to Tralee Co.
Kerry from August 18 to 22.
* Next week as part of our interviews with 20 women to mark the 20th
anniversary of WoW!, we interview Deputy Holly Cairns, leader of the
Social Democrats.
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