Mayo represented at this year’s Rose of Tralee

Mayo well represented at this year’s Rose of Tralee


Ciara Galvin

DESPITE not having a Mayo Rose this year to cheer on, the people of Crossmolina will be tuning in to this year’s Rose of Tralee to cheer on Crossmolina native Sara Moffatt. The primary school teacher who lives and works as a teacher in Abu Dhabi, will represent Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates at the upcoming festival. Sarah qualified from St Patrick’s Teacher Training College in 2010 and worked in Dublin for two years before moving to the UAE.
The people of Westport will also be cheering on locals in this year’s Rose of Tralee, supporting two local men who are 2013 Rose of Tralee Escorts.
Westport native Gary Keane will be flying the green and red as he escorts one of the Roses throughout the six day festival. The IT Sligo student, who is currently studying for a degree in Business and Recreational Leisure, is involved in numerous local clubs and asscociations.
He plays for Westport Seniors and IT Sligo GAA and also has coached Westport ladies’ team which could work to his advantage in vying for the title of Escort of the Year 2013. Last year Mayo Rose Dervla Kenny’s escort, Ian Cullinane took the coveted title.
Keane, who lives in Fahy, runs his own personal training service in the area.
Dave Heraty (23) from Liscarney, Westport, a fellow class mate of Gary’s will also be aiming to represent Westport and assist the Roses as best he can.
Dave, Student Union President at Letterkenny Institute of Technology, admits that ‘helping people is my forte’.
Dave decided to apply to be an escort after he heard a local radio station advertising the opportunity. After getting through the interview process, Dave found out he was chosen and has since taken part in an Escort Bootcamp in Ballybunion, Co Kerry.
The confident Westport man stated that ‘anything I put my mind to I succeed at’, in reply to a question regarding his surprise at getting an escort role.
Dave is now looking forward to the week of the international festival from August 14 to August 20.
“It’s going to be a lot of hard work but it’s going to be enjoyable and I hope to represent Westport as well as I can,” concluded Heraty.
Another 2013 escort who has been a familiar face around Westport is former garda in the town Mark Irwin. Whilst on duty in Westport last November, Mark saved the lives of two different people who had got into difficulty in water, in the space of three weeks.
Garda Irwin, who now works in Co Leitrim, decided to apply to be an escort after accompanying the 2012 Roses on their visit around Westport last year.

For full details of all events taking place in Tralee throughout the Rose of Tralee International Festival are available from www.roseoftralee.ie and on Facebook.