Keely O’Grady Crowned 2024 International Rose of Tralee in Historic Win for New Zealand
Keely O’Grady, a 21-year-old student studying speech and language therapy, was crowned the 2024 International Rose of Tralee in a spectacular celebration of her Irish roots.
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2024 International Rose of Tralee Brings New Zealand Back to the Spotlight
The Canterbury University student expressed her overwhelming joy, stating she “can’t really put it into words” as she became only the third New Zealand Rose to win this prestigious title since 1988.
O’Grady, visibly emotional, shared her excitement about representing her country on the global stage. She highlighted the significance of her win, noting the rarity of New Zealand’s presence in the competition’s 64-year history.
Her crowning moment was filled with jubilation as she was honoured by the judges and passed the title from last year’s winner, New York Rose Róisín Wiley.
The event, held in Co Kerry, saw an array of talents and heartfelt performances from Roses across the globe. Highlights included Donegal Rose Niamh Shevlin’s Irish dance, Sligo Rose Megan McCormack’s poetic recital, and Dublin Rose Casey Harris’s moving rendition of “Summer in Dublin.”
The festival, expertly hosted by Kathryn Thomas and Dáithí Ó Sé, concluded with O’Grady’s crowning, a moment that will resonate in the history of the Rose of Tralee.
