Philadelphia Rose Maria Walsh was crowned the 2014 Rose of Tralee as the festival drew to a close last night.
Maria was born in Boston, Massachusetts, but moved to Shrule in Co Mayo when she was seven. She went on to study Journalism and Visual Media in Dublin’s Griffith College before moving to New York after graduation.
The 27-year-old later moved to Philadelphia where she works as a studio manager for clothing and lifestyle brand, Anthropologie.
Maria Walsh was crowned the 2014 Rose of Tralee last night
During her interview, Maria revealed that the three small ladybird tattoos behind her neck were dedicated to her late cousin Teresa Molloy (18), one of four women killed in a crash on the N17 in November 2009.
Alongside Maria, roses representing Carlow and Abu Dhabi were among the favourites last night but it was Maria who was crowned winner with Paddy Power offering odds 2/5 for her to take the 2014 title.
Our 2014 Rose of Tralee Maria Walsh #roseoftralee pic.twitter.com/rxsWDEv1jr
— Rose of Tralee (@RoseofTralee_) August 19, 2014
2014 Rose of Tralee Maria Walsh #roseoftralee pic.twitter.com/XYPgKBMCW1
— Rose of Tralee (@RoseofTralee_) August 19, 2014
Images via RTÉ, YouTube and Twitter
