Pride at St Cremin’s NS as their Rose of Tralee comes back

Caitlin Connors

“We are so proud that you came back to see us today. We are all proud of what you did and how you achieved it, because it was brilliant.”

Those are the words that greeted Caoilfhinn Ní Choiligh when she returned as Rose of Tralee to visit her old national school, St Cremin’s in Multyfarnham, on Thursday, November 5.

Pupils and staff formed guard of honour for Caoilfhinn and principal Karl Dermody introduced the third, fourth, fifth and sixth class pupils to her. “It was absolutely amazing and you deserve all the credit that you’re getting for it because you were brilliant and you are brilliant.”

Before she spoke to the students, Mr Dermody asked them for a few words to describe Caoilfhinn. Resilient, brave, confident and strong were all words that the children and Mr Dermody, added “another word that I would use; she was inspirational”.

The touching introduction left Caoilfhinn in tears. “I got a little bit emotional there but that’s something I do all the time. I wear it as a badge of honour. Sometimes it’s okay to show emotions, especially when it’s positive because that was just so touching. And I think just being back here as well, it’s a mini homecoming,” Caoilfhinn told the students.

While visiting primary schools around Westmeath and beyond, Caoilfhinn has been tell her young audiences about participating in and winning the Rose of Tralee, as well as alopecia, spreading the message that it is okay to be different.

Resilience and celebrating who you are were key messages Caoilfhinn hoped to get across to the children. “When you go through something in your life and you build up that resilience, when you can then look on the positive side of it, see how it shaped you as a person is, really important and that’s definitely what my hair loss did for me.”

Caoilfhinn removed her wig as she spoke, explaining the upbeat side of wearing wigs too. “I can change my hair whenever I want and I can tell other people how great it can be and I’ve often got other girls to wear wigs, even though they have hair, just because it’s fun to do and it can be whatever colour they want.”

After Caoilfhinn spoke to the children about embracing their flaws and differences, she answered their questions, and they included one seeking further detail about the Rose of Tralee. “What was the hardest part of being in the Rose of Tralee?”

Caoilfhinn replied: “Getting all the dresses. Oh, my goodness. I had to have like 30 different outfits. It’s something you don’t think about when you sign up.”

Another question was if she ever felt like she had to hide her alopecia. Caoilfhinn responded with an honest and thoughtful answer: “It was tough at the beginning because I didn’t know if the hair was going to grow back. So, at first, I didn’t want to get a wig because I thought ‘they’ll notice a wig’.

“But if it’s a spot that I can try and conceal, I’ll try and do that. But it just was, very stressful.”

“And there were definitely days I wouldn’t go to school because I didn’t want people to see me that way. Or I’d get it in my head and work up a negative emotion. And then I wouldn’t want to go to school. So, it was tricky.

“But it got easier. Everything gets easier. And you know what, when you have a nice support network, whether it’s your friends, your family, your teammates, you know, they help you through it as well.”

Sixth class teacher, Sharon Haughey, who had taught Caoilfhinn, added: “You know, don’t be afraid to be who you are. I think Caoilfhinn has given you that message brilliantly today.”

“You can be whoever you want to be. As long as you are somebody doing something that you love.”

Before finishing up, Caoilfhinn remarked on how much the school had changed in the years since she had left, praising the new classrooms and facilities, in particular the addition of the autism unit.

Reflecting on her experience talking to the pupils, Caoilfhinn told the Westmeath Examiner: “Showcasing what it is to be part of the festival and talking about embracing your authentic self is my whole message when I took part [in the Rose of Tralee competition].

“And I think that’s really important for kids nowadays to hear. And the younger, the better, because social media has really warped the perception of what we’re seeing, and, can make us feel very self-conscious.

“So, for them to have someone who used to be a student here come in, show what makes them different, show that nothing holds you back and that you can just be whatever you want to be if you just put your mind to it is, I think, powerful.”

Twelve years on from when Caoilfhinn sat in the chairs of St Cremin’s NS, she returned as an incredible inspiration and role model for any student to look up to.