| New York Rose Takes Title in Tralee
 New York
Rose Lisa Murtagh became the 48th Rose of Tralee on August 22 at the Festival
Dome in Tralee, County Kerry. The Yonkers native, who beat out 30 contestants
from all over the globe, is the first American Rose to take the famous
tiara since Roisin Egenton, also representing New York, won in 2000.
There was no rest for the lovely Murtagh, 27, who, after just one hour
of sleep on the night of her victory, went straight to work as the 2007
Rose with numerous photo shoots and media interviews the next day. Throw
in a visit to an exhibition at the Kerry County Library and an appearance
at the Tralee Races, and it was more of a hurricane than a whirlwind 24
hours for the redhead.
One of Murtagh’s first interviews in Ireland was with an RTE radio
show called Morning Ireland. The interviewer, while acknowledging that
the festival is unique and unlike any other competition, said that in
some ways it could be considered old-fashioned. Murtagh was quick to put
him straight.
“It is a celebration of modern Irish women. It’s obvious that
after watching the show that you have 30 other amazing impressive women
who are proud to be called Irish or say they are of Irish heritage, so
I don’t think there is anything old-fashioned about that,”
was Murtagh’s reply.
Murtagh arrived in Tralee with a goal, winning was only a bonus. “Regardless
of whether I won or not, I wanted to rejuvenate interest in the Festival
in New York. The city has such a strong history and a strong Irish connection,
and I think that the festival is very important to young women of Irish
descent,” Murtagh said, speaking to Irish America over the phone
from Ireland, two days after her win.
Included in the prizes Murtagh received were a $25,000 travel voucher
to use for Rose activities, jewelry and cutlery from Newbridge Silverware,
and the use of a car while in Ireland.
.jpg) How often
the new Rose, an attorney in Manhattan with the global law firm Clifford
Chance, will use the car has yet to be worked out, for she has a tough
decision to make. Should she take a career break and travel the world
representing the festival, or remain in New York? Either way she plans
to put her own stamp on the position.
“The American [Rose of Tralee] centers are suffering a lot, and
that is my primary focus. So maybe staying in New York is what I can do
best for the Rose of Tralee,” she offers.
“They [the committee] are very flexible, and realize the demands
on modern women. They know I have a serious job back in New York. They
basically said it is up to me. I can stay in New York and do what I can
to raise the profile of the festival there, or I can move to Ireland.
It is really a matter of sitting down and making the decision once I get
back to New York.”
Whether she decides to move to Ireland or stay in the U.S., Murtagh, who
said she planned to be in New York at least until Christmas, is wise enough
to recognize that the future of the festival depends upon the participation
of the younger generation and she plans to promote the festival to young
Irish-Americans.
“We need an infusion of young blood. There is interest here but
it is waning. Obviously, the young Irish aren’t coming to the United
States in the same droves that they used to, and that has an effect. But
once I explain what the festival is to Irish-Americans, many who have
parents, grandparents and sometimes great-grandparents who are Irish,
they have been extremely interested, and this is the audience I want to
target.”
Before the contest, Ted Keane, spokesman for the festival, described the
qualities they were looking for in the Rose of Tralee. “We’re
looking for a girl who is personable, has self-confidence, and has the
ability to go anywhere in the world and represent Irish women,”
he said.
Ted Keane can rest easy for another year, as the judges did their job
well. Murtagh’s win, and her promise to raise the profile of the
festival and bolster pride in being Irish, will bode well for both the
festival and Irish America.
– By Declan O'Kelly
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