Rose Maria’s media frenzy

The national and international spotlight has shone brightly on Shrule’s Maria Walsh this week after she was announced last Tuesday as the 2014 Rose of Tralee. The Philadelphia Rose is pictured in Croke Park on Sunday last, wearing a signed Mayo GAA jersey. Pic: Sportsfile

Shrule Rose blooms in Tralee


Willie McHugh reflects on a week that saw Maria Walsh win the hearts of a nation

IT was only a matter of waiting.  What if it took Daithí Ó Sé what seemed like an eternity to announce Maria Walsh, the Philidelphia Rose, as the ‘2014 International Rose of Tralee’. Hers was the name everyone in the Shrule region expected to hear. Truth is, there was a quiet anticipation in the locality that Maria was going to be the one wearing the crown.
It was written in the stars. Even from looking at the smiling girl on the ‘good luck’ billboards erected around the region there was a portending notion she was to the next Rose of Tralee. There was just something about her. The infectious smile and an unassuming manner one instantly warms to. But that’s how it is with Maria. What you see is what you get. “A pure natural” is how those who know her best around Shrule describe her.
No airs or graces or highbrow notions with this fine young lady.
Since Vincent Walsh from Roundfort and his wife Noreen from Lettermore, and their young family, returned from Boston and came to live in Shrule in 1994 they immersed themselves in community activities. Not sitting on some long-winded committees.
Vincent with the yellow bib acting as steward or pinning up his sleeves to help with some project or other. Noreen, busy in the community centre kitchen, with other members of Shrule Ladies Club making tea or preparing sandwiches for some social gathering.
Last Tuesday night their daughter, Maria, captured the imagination of the nation when she appeared on national television in the famous contest. From the second she stepped on stage the girl with warm endearing personality made for compulsive viewing. No pretence or playing to the gallery by way of courting publicity.   
In a few short minutes on primetime television, Maria Walsh dragged this contest into the new millennium. After her performance on Tuesday night the Rose of Tralee has become an event worthy of winning from now on.
The first contestant with tattoos in this competition. Three lovebirds tastefully etched on the nape of her neck in memory of her cousin Teresa Molloy who lost her life in a tragic road accident.
At the age of twelve she enrolled with the Glencorrib Pioneer Centre. It wasn’t a youthful whim but a promise she has remained true to. It has served her well. In Tralee on Tuesday night she spoke refreshingly about how she enjoys a full and entertaining social life without indulging in alcohol.  
She was the only topic along the banks of the Black River all this week. In every gathering Maria Walsh winning the Rose of Tralee was the grist to the millwheel of conversation.
All other happenings of the world were moved to the back-burner for a while. Seldom if ever has one event generated so much outpouring of joy and goodwill.
Everyone jostling for a hearing as they told where they were, who they were with, and what they did after Maria was declared the winner. Of how they loved her in Kerry.
Rita Davin was among those from the locality who travelled to Tralee. She was best placed to tell of the reception the Rose of Philadelphia received. “Everywhere she went all week people took to her instantly. We were in a sports shop one day buying a few flags and when we came out a man sitting across the road shouted over to the shop owner to back the Philadelphia Rose.”
The good money was going on her. A Shrule man who understands such things was watching betting trends on a bookmaker’s website.
In the time between Maria’s appearance on stage and the official announcement the odds shortened at an alarming rate. Seemingly a few punters were stinging the bookies. More power to them.
Rita Davin’s comment on her reaction to Maria’s win echoes the reaction of the locality.
“I was absolutely thrilled. I have daughters myself and I was as delighted for Maria as if it were one of my own girls who had won it. She did Shrule and Mayo proud. It was as good as winning the All-Ireland. They knew what they were at in Philadelphia when they chose Maria to represent them.”
Maria Walsh winning the Rose of Tralee gave the region along the borderlines of Galway and Mayo an amazing boost. In Tralee she was the people’s choice.
In Shrule she’s the girl they’ll boast proudly about forever and a day.