In our second episode of season two of Bramcast, we are joined by the 2023 Rose of Tralee, Ms. Roisin Wiley.
Róisín was born and reared in New York to an Irish family hailing from county Limerick. After being selected to represent New York in the competition in June, she would win the Rose of Tralee outright this past August. A graduate of Fairfield University, Róisin is currently serving as Vice President of Neptune Retail Solutions, a consumer marketing company based in the US.
Today, we discuss Róisíns life story and what brought her to enter to the Rose of Tralee. Roisin explains what the Rose of Tralee is, what it means to her and the other Roses, and she esponds to criticism of the competition and festival as antiquated and pushes back on the “beauty pageant” label so often applied to the festival. We delve into what Róisín would change about the Rose of Tralee, what makes New York Irish different from Irish America at large, the most influential figures in her life, and even an account of her first visit to the Ploughing Championships.
Thank you to EY for their sponsorship and support.
Introduction Music Credit: Eastern Blokhedz Live at Barbes for WFMU's Transpacific Sound Paradise with Rob W
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