While the Laois flag will be proudly flown by Sinead Dowd in Tralee next week, she isn’t the only O’Moore interest in the competition.
Ottawa Rose, Aoife McDonald, whose dad Patrick is from Portarlington, grew up immersed in Irish heritage.
“My parents moved to Canada in 1988. My mom is from Mountbellew in Galway and we have been coming to Ireland every year since I was a baby,” said the 27- year-old.
“My dad has just one brother left living in Portarlington and i have cousins there still.
“Irish heritage is very important to our family. My brother is named Eimhin after Monasterevin, and my parents gave us their middle names, Brid and Patrick, as our second names so that our descendants would be able to trace the family line.
“We have always been very involved in the Irish community in Ottawa. We attended the St Patrick’s Day events and I did Irish dancing. My Irish dancing teacher was originally from Dublin,” Aoife said.
She works at the Senate of Canada committees’ directorate on the legal and constitutional committee. Her mother won an award as one of Canada’s outstanding principals in 2016.
Her dad bought a deconsecrated Catholic church and turned it into St Brigid’s Centre for the Arts, home of the national Irish Canadian cultural centre.
It incorporates Brigid’s Well pub in the basement. “The joke is that my dad bought it for my mom as a Valentine’s Day gift as her name is the Irish for Brigid.”
Having watched The Rose of Tralee over the years, Aoife is thrilled to be taking part. “Seeing all those strong fearless women on stage, I wanted to join them. This is the first year since 2019 that the Ottawa Rose competition has taken place so it is great to have the opportunity to take part.
“My dad is very proud. We took the bus from Dublin to meet my mom and he told the driver that there was a Rose on the bus,” said Aoife.
She bought her dress in Canada and is all geared up for the big night in the dome.
“It has all been surreal so far. The welcome and the sense of belonging and community is fantastic.
“It’s very emotional and a very rewarding experience for my family and an amazing way of celebrating my Irish heritage.”
Photo By : Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD .
Photo By : Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD .
SEE ALSO – Laois lads all set to tend to their Roses in Tralee next week
