Mayo celebrates as maria is crowned rose of tralee

THERE were celebrations in Mayo last night when Philadelphia Rose Maria Walsh was crowned the 2014 Rose of Tralee.

A native of Boston, Massachusetts, Maria moved to Shrule in 1994. Her father Vincent is from Carravilla, Roundfort, while her mother was born in Boston but moved to Leitir Mor in Connemara when she was seven, returning to Boston in her early twenties.

After finishing school Maria studied journalism and visual media in Griffith College, Dublin, graduating in 2009. She ventured to the Big Apple in early 2010 before heading to Philadelphia in late 2011.

She is a studio manager for Anthropologie, a clothing and lifestyle brand. In her spare time she is an avid Gaelic player and supporter and plays with the Notre Dames in Philadelphia.

A member of the Glencorrib pioneer centre since she was 12, she has volunteered for many years with the Pioneer Association and No Name Club, two organisations that focus on the development of young people.

Maria had been the overwhelming favourite with the bookies to take the title.