Mayo Rose to raise awareness for spina bifida and hydrocephalus in memory of late sister

MAYO Rose Clara Gardiner aims to raise awareness for spina bifida and hydrocephalus in memory of her late sister.

The Kilfian mother-of-one lost her sister Jemma to hydrocephalus in 2019. She was just 16 years old.

Ms Gardiner became the first mother to win the Mayo Rose competition when she succeeded Castlebar’s Kate Heneghan, who held the sash since 2023.

Speaking exclusively to The Mayo News, Ms Gardiner said she dedicated her win to her late sister.

“I’d definitely like to tell the world about the type of person Jemma was, because I felt like I was doing it for her. I really felt her presence with me on Saturday night. I’d really like the world to know who she was and how much she inspired me.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mayo Rose Centre (@mayorosecentre)

LOVING MEMORY

SPINA bifida is a condition where babies fail to develop a full spinal cord while in the womb. It often leads to hydrocephalus, which is a condition where there is too much fluid buildup in the brain

Ms Gardiner’s sister developed hydrocephalus after being born, which affected her ability to communicate verbally and delayed her learning how to walk. Despite this, she was ‘very healthy and happy’ most of her life before she died unexpectedly in 2019.

“Although she was only here for sixteen short years, she inspired us so much to just live life to the fullest and take opportunities like this. She didn’t let her disability stop her from living life to the fullest,” explained Ms Gardiner.

“I’d also like to spread awareness for the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Ireland Association and how much they have done for us as a family, and how much they help other families come together. We all have something in common, but each individual with the condition are born differently and they are so unique in their own ways. We are still a family, even since Jemma passed away. They have still always been here for us and supported us to always feel a part of that. It’s great. I’d really like to spread awareness about that.”

The 24-year-old made history by becoming the first woman with a child to be crowned the Mayo Rose.

^{Mayo Rose Clara Gardiner holding her son Noah (2)}

Prior to 2022, married women were prohibited from entering the Rose of Tralee. That year, the maximum age for contestants was raised from 28 to 29.

Recalling the moment she was announced as Mayo Rose, Ms Gardiner said: “I watched the video back the day after because it still hadn’t fully sunk in. I heard the song ‘A Moment Like This Playing’ and I turned around to my partner saying, ‘When did they play that?’ When my name was announced, I just went into complete shock and disbelief because I really, really wasn’t expecting it. I

“I was on the stage with 15 other amazing, talented girls, and we all said before it could be any of us. I definitely don’t envy the judges because I don’t know how they made that decision. It must be so tough being in their position. I was lost for words, to be honest with you. I had to take a few minutes to just kind of let it sink in, but I don’t know has it fully sunk in yet. I was really really shocked, and I just thought I was kind of in a dream and I was going to wake up.”

SUMMER OF EXCITEMENT

IN competing in the 2025 Rose of Tralee, Ms Gardiner fulfilled a lifelong dream.

“Last year, in particular, I was inspired by the Galway Rose. Her story, I felt, was very similar to mine,” she said, referring to Deirdre Jennings, a medical worker from Ros An Mhíl.

Ms Gardiner did the Leaving Cert in 2019 - the same year she lost her sister - but later dropped out of her college course.

She is currently studying home economics teaching at St Angela’s College and commutes an hour-and-a-half daily between Sligo and Kilfian.

^{Mayo Rose Clara Gardiner (centre) pictured with her mother Gillian, her father Anthony and her little sister Aoibhínn at the McWilliam Park Hotel in Claremorris}

“I put all my grief on hold, and it caught up with me, and then Covid started in 2020, so I just took a break,” she explained. “Then next thing I decided to look at the CAO again after I had Noah [in 2022], see what sort of options were available and I saw the home economics course as a single subject with concurrent teaching and I said I’d go for it because I absolutely loved home ec’ in school. It was definitely my favourite subject.”

She cited her son (2) as her inspiration for going back to college and entering the Mayo Rose competition.

“That kind of gave me the push and inspired me to go for any opportunity that comes my way,” she said.

“I’m doing it for him mostly, that will have a career that will give a good work-life balance, and I want to be able to inspire the students that I’ll be teaching in the future.”

Ms Gardiner performs regularly and weddings and funerals and sang ‘A Song For Ireland’ for her Mayo Rose party piece.

She cited her parents and her former music teacher and fellow Kifian native Nollaig McHale as her main musical influences.

With the Galway and Mayo Roses featuring at the Rose of Tralee on alternating years, Ms Gardiner will be the sole Connacht representative this year’s festival.

In August, she follows in the footsteps of several former Mayo Roses, including Rose of Tralee winners Maria Walsh from Shrule, Aoibheann Ní Shúilleabháin from Carnacon, and Luzveminda O’Sullivan from Castlebar.

“I have a bit of work left to do, and after that then the fun can start. I am looking forward to a hectic but really exciting summer.”

The Kilfian community toasted her success at a gathering at Kilfian GAA Club last Friday evening.

As well as spreading awareness for the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Ireland Association, Ms Gardiner also wishes to use her time as Mayo Rose to promote her native village.