Martha had time of her life as the Leitrim Rose
"I had the best time of my whole life" was the way Martha Gilheaney described her experience as the Leitrim Rose.
The Ballinamore beauty told the Leitrim Observer she was having a "hard time adjusting to normal life" following a whirlwind fortnight which culminated with a massive homecoming party in Jackies Bar, Ballinamore last Friday night, August 27.
Speaking to the paper this week, Martha said it was impossible to describe the past two weeks, the functions, parties, openings, tours, parades and TV appearance became part of the 25 year old's routine as the Leitrim Rose.
Although Martha looked picture perfect on screen last Monday night, she was after enduring over a week of hectic days that started each morning at 8am and usually ended the next morning at 2am. When asked how she dealt with the lack of sleep and the manic routine she said "It was fun, everyone was in the same boat" and adrenalin and excitement kept them all going.
When asked about the highlight from Tralee, Martha didn't hesitate in selecting the parade. She said it was "magical," she described the sky, the atmosphere, the crowds, the colourful floats and most importantly her support as "extraordinary."
Martha's family, friends and the massive Leitrim support set up a "Leitrim Rose Head Quarters" at Finnegan's Hostel on Denny Street towards the end of the parade and Martha was only too delighted to see a building covered in Leitrim flags, posters and best wishes. She said it was "very emotional."
Martha said she was quite nervous before going on stage last Monday night but once out there the nerves faded away, she also laughed as she recalled Daithi O'Se's lament to her as she put on her dancing shoes. "I knew of the song before, (Tom Wait's: Martha) but I think it has been revived because now everyone is singing it at me," she joked.
Martha paid tribute to her right hand man, Robbie Costelloe who won Escort of the Year in the Dome last Monday night. She said he was a "gentleman and so funny, he helped me relax when I got nervous."
The Tuesday night of the Rose of Tralee TV appearance was more enjoyable for Martha as she got to sit back and enjoy the show. Martha said she was not at all jealous not to win the Rose of Tralee and described the winning London Rose as "lovely and elegant." Martha said she has made lifelong friends from around the world and already misses some of them!
She revealed that her room mate the Sydney Rose Louise Lenihan may be dropping by Ballinamore before she heads back to Oz.
So will Martha be sitting back and taking a break now that the Rose of Tralee is over?
No way, she is currently unpacking her beautiful dresses and repacking her bags to return to college to do a Masters in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Martha is expecting to finish her masters and move on to do a post grad to become a primary school teacher. Her plans are to teach during the semester and then teach English abroad during the Summer, all the while dancing and choreographing dance routines for the Irish dance group Shaylyn!
So is the Rose of Tralee all it is cracked up to be?
“I would 100% encourage anyone to go for it, I would do it again if I could. It is such an amazing experience,” she beamed.
Martha would like to thank all her family, friends and supporters for their help and best wishes over her Rose of Tralee experience, she concluded by saying she is looking forward to going to Tralee next year to cheer on the 2011 Leitrim Rose.
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Weather for Carrick-on-Shannon, Ireland
Thursday 17 May 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 5 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 6 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
