Chicago Rose reveals connection to the Westmeath Examiner

Last night in Tralee an interesting connection to the Westmeath Examiner was revealed.

Fiona Gaffney, the Chicago Rose informed audiences that her Grandfather, not only worked at the Westmeath Examiner and lived in Mullingar, but worked with the great Joe Dolan.

"That would be because of my Grandad," Fiona Gaffney told Dáithí O'Shea on Monday night.

"His legacy would be in newspapers and so he would have moved around for those jobs.

"So Mullingar came when he got the position at the Westmeath Examiner.

"Oh he might have known someone named Joe Dolan," she replied when Dáithí asked about him

"So Joe Dolan worked under my grandfather and as the story goes he was showing up late, we know why, he had some gigs to perform.

"So my Grandad basically said give it a go or do this and it worked out pretty well."

Fiona is 26 years old and a proud first generation Irish American from Chicago.

Her mother was born in Westmeath but raised in Waterford.

Her grandparents hail from Wexford and she has Galway and Leitrim heritage through her father.

She earned her bachelor’s in biophysics and microbiology from her master's in public health stemming from a passion for science accessibility and women's health advocacy.

She dubs the Chicago Irish community as her "second family," and serves on the executive committee of Ireland Network Chicago and am Vice President of Cultural Affairs for the Young Irish Fellowship Club of Chicago.

She has studied Irish with Na Gaeil Chicago for three years and attended Oideas Gael under a 2025 Summer Gaeltacht Award.

A lifelong swimmer, Fiona also plays water polo.

She ran the Dublin Marathon in 2024 for De Paul Ireland and is gearing up to run the Chicago equivalent in 2026.

" I am incredibly honoured to represent Chicago and excited for this journey with my fellow Roses," said Fiona.