Advice from Grace as Westmeath Rose selection begins

Síofra Grant

Grace O’Connor, Killucan native and Westmeath Rose, is coming to the end of her tenure and preparing to hand over to the next Rose.

For the last two years, Grace has used her platform to raise awareness for mental health and has been a role model to young people throughout the county.

As applications open and Westmeath hopefuls prepare for the selection (in June), Grace shared some insight into what applicants can expect.

“Basically they apply online and fill out this big form with a few questions, mainly about yourself and your interests and that sort of thing.

“Then there’s a few meet and greet days where all the girls that apply meet up and chat with each other.

“For my year, we met up in Daly’s and had food and a drink or two after. I think for this year, they’ll be meeting up at the dog track in Mullingar on one of the nights.

“Then the selection night is on June 13 and that’s in Athlone – mine was in Mullingar.

“The day itself, you have a private interview with the judges, where they go through all the questions based on what you’ve said, your interests, your hobbies.

“Then you have some time in between and then there’s group interviews where a few of the girls go in to the judges at the same time.”

The group interviews are as important as the one on ones earlier in the day, according to Grace, and they give the judges an idea of what you’re like in conversation.

“It’s more to see how you talk, if you let other people talk and if you talk over people,” she said, “how you express yourself and that sort of thing.”

Following the interviews, the main event takes place, in which all the hopefuls take to the stage. “But by then, I’d say it’s nearly already decided – as for the day, it is for your friends and family and everyone else to enjoy.”

There are certain qualities that hopefuls should possess to be the Westmeath Rose. “If you have a bit of confidence in yourself and kindness, it would be the main one.

“The interests of the different girls are such a broad range and I think mainly just being kind and caring and to have respect for people.”

“But I definitely think just believe in yourself and give that push for confidence because people are going to rally behind it and you just have to believe in yourself and it’s what you have to do.”

Before signing off as Westmeath Rose, Grace has advice for the next girl in the position. “Just be yourself, I know it sounds so clichéd but everyone is different. So sometimes people will be trying to push academics and stuff like that but it shouldn’t come down to that at all.

“It’s not about who has the most achievements or who has the most things on their CV. It really is down to how you treat other people and your personality.

“I think that once you just believe in yourself and believe in your own personality, if you’re already signed up and you’re ready to go, if there’s a bit of you that believes in yourself just lean into that.”

Applications are now open for anyone interested in taking part.