Rose of Tralee 2025 blooms in Co Kerry - Get to know the North American Roses!

The Rose of Tralee International Festival, a historic celebration of Irish culture and heritage that connects the global Irish community, returns to Co Kerry this weekend.

The five-day festival culminates in the selection of the International Rose of Tralee, a year-long ambassador role for the woman who will represent Ireland and the Festival, both locally and around the world.

Ireland’s flagship family festival, the Rose of Tralee Festival, plays host to five days and nights of parades, gala functions, community events, entertainment, televised Rose Selection nights, and much more.

This year, Roses representing Ireland and abroad will take to the stage at the Kerry Sports Academy at the MTU on Monday, August 18, and Tuesday, August 19 to chat with co-hosts Dáithí Ó Sé and Kathryn Thomas in a bid to become the 2025 Rose of Tralee, following in the footsteps of last year's Rose, Keely O'Grady from New Zealand.

The live events will air from 8 pm Irish time on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player both nights.

Among the 32 Roses vying for the title this year are nine women from North America, who you can get to know, in their own words, below.

The other Rose of Tralee hopefuls this year are representing Armagh, Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Down, Fermanagh, Germany, Kerry, Laois, Limerick, Longford, London, Luxembourg, Mayo, Meath, New Zealand, Offaly, Queensland, South Australia, Sydney, Tyrone, United Arab Emirates, and Wexford.

All of the Roses arrived in style in Tralee on Friday as the festivities began:

Arizona - Colleen Kelahan-Pierson

Colleen Kelahan-Pierson.

Hello! I’m Colleen Kelahan-Pierson, a 29-year-old Arizona native with a passion for movement, healing, and helping others thrive. I work as a Physical Therapy Technician and Patient Services Coordinator at Spooner Sports Institute, supporting athletes of all ages through injury recovery and performance training. My Irish heritage comes from my maternal grandfather’s side, originally from counties Armagh, Monaghan and Donegal. My sister and I are proud to be fifth-generation Irish Americans! A passionate Irish dancer, I’ve proudly taught at the Bracken School of Irish Dance for the past 11 years. Graduating from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and a minor in Dance, I dream of earning my Doctorate in Physical Therapy and specializing in pediatrics, athletics, or ideally, both. I’m inspired by the resilience of young athletes and hope to make a lasting impact in their lives. I love staying active, exploring the outdoors, trying new bars and restaurants, and playing with my 2-year-old beagle Daisy. I’m driven by a desire to uplift others and bring energy, empathy, and excellence to everything I do.

Boston - Maeve Kelly

Maeve Kelly.

Hello! I’m Maeve, I’m 28, and I’m honoured to represent Boston and New England at the Rose of Tralee. I grew up in West Roxbury, Massachusetts, and then spent four unforgettable years in Galway, where I graduated from the University of Galway with a degree in Law, Sociology, and Politics. My maternal grandparents are from Claremorris, Co. Mayo and Killarney, Co. Kerry, while my paternal grandparents are proud native residents of Tralee. Growing up, we spent many summers in Tralee, and it has always felt like a second home. My dad moved to Boston in his 20s, and our family has been proudly rooted here ever since. I’m a first-generation college graduate and currently work as a mental health counsellor. Recently, I began night classes to pursue my dream of becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner. I truly believe it’s never too late to change your path—when you follow your heart, the rest will fall into place. I’m so excited to meet my fellow Roses, embrace this once-in-a-lifetime experience, and return to Tralee as the Boston and New England Rose!

Ohio - Fiona Conway

Fiona Conway.

Hello! My name is Fiona. I am 22 years old from Cleveland, OH. My ancestry traces back to Donna, Ballycroy, County Mayo, where my great grandparents were born. I am very proud of my Irish heritage which led me to apply for Irish citizenship. I am a Summa cum laude graduate of Adrian College and have been accepted into the Doctorate of Physical Therapy program at The Ohio State University. I currently work as a research assistant at the Orthopedic Rehabilitation and Biomechanics Laboratory at the University of Michigan studying cartilage degeneration post anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery and am the Head Figure Skating Coach at Adrian College. I am a member of Team USA Synchronized Skating and have competed at international events in both Switzerland and Poland. In the future, I plan to work as a physical therapist at the Olympics and form the first synchronized skating team for Team Ireland. Beyond skating, I’m a tenor drummer with the Great Lakes Pipe Band, competing at events like the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland!

Ottawa - Aidan Russell

Aidan Russell.

Hi! I'm Aidan, I'm 27 and I moved to Ottawa six years ago to complete my Master’s in International Affairs, specializing in Diplomacy and Foreign Policy. I’ve since been accepted into the Canadian Foreign Service as a Diplomat and currently work in Indigenous Services. As a dual citizen of Ireland and Canada, I had the privilege of living and working in Dublin last year with the Trade Commissioner Service at the Embassy of Canada to Ireland. Outside of work, I run a freelance marketing business, captain my volleyball teams, and can usually be found playing pickup footy, painting, reading, cooking for friends, or heading to Pilates. My dad, who was born in Ireland and passed just before Christmas, always said my love for Ireland was “in my blood.” It’s in my love of sea swims, hikes in the Mournes, how my heart swells showing loved ones Coumeenoole Beach, the indescribable sense of feeling at home there and how a cup of tea with an ungodly amount of honey makes everything better. Honouring that love as the Ottawa Rose means everything.

Philadelphia - Shannon Emery

Shannon Emery.

Hi! I'm Shannon Emery, 26, born and raised in the Philadelphia region of Pennsylvania where I work as a high school Special Education teacher. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Middle Grades Science and Special Education from West Chester University, where I also served as Vice President of Community Service for my sorority—writing programs for local Girl Scouts and supporting Prevent Child Abuse America. I'm passionate about empowering young women. At school, I advise the Aevidum suicide prevention club and co-founded a girls support group to help students build confidence and community. I recently completed my Master’s in Educational Leadership from Immaculata University and will begin my doctoral program this summer. When I’m not teaching or studying, I love spending time with family, friends, and my dogs, Clover and Jameson. My Irish roots trace back to Donegal, Meath, Kildare, Dublin, and Cork, with my strongest ties in Kerry. Inspired by my great-grandmother Elizabeth’s journey from Kerry to America in 1922, I’m proud to represent that legacy as a Rose in the Rose of Tralee Festival.

Texas - Sara Costa

Sara Costa.

Hi, y’all! My name is Sara, and I am thrilled to be the 2025 Texas Rose. I’m 21 years old and proudly from Austin, Texas. I’m currently studying Political Communication and the Persian language at the University of Texas at Austin, where I’m passionate about community, connection, and learning all that I can! Irish dance has been a huge part of my life for the past 15 years, helping me find confidence, lifelong friendships, and a deep pride in my heritage. My Irish roots hail from Collooney, County Sligo, a place I hold close to my heart. In my free time, I love thrifting for vintage treasures, finding new coffee shops, and sharing my thyroid cancer journey online to inspire and uplift others. I also love reading the news and have enjoyed keeping up to date on the latest happenings in Ireland. It is such an honor to represent Texas on the international stage, and I am so excited to celebrate our shared Irish culture, make new memories, and meet so many amazing people in Tralee this summer.

Toronto - Rachel Hoare

Rachel Hoare.

Hi there! I’m Rachel, and I was born and raised just outside of Toronto, Canada. My Irish roots come from my dad, who moved to Canada as a young adult. I recently graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Women and Gender Studies. This fall, I’m heading to St. Francis Xavier University to begin the Education program and work toward my dream of becoming a high school teacher. Community involvement means a lot to me. I’ve volunteered at the Celtic Fall Festival for the past three years and have supported organizations like MudGirl, the Tiger Jeet Singh Foundation, and ErinoakKids. One of my favourite projects has been knitting hats for newborns at my local hospital, a tribute to my Nana Rosaleen, who also knitted for babies in need. I’ve been Irish dancing since I was four, and now I love cheering on my younger sister and helping out at competitions. I’m also a big fan of spinning, yoga, and running—and I’ve even raced in the Toronto Marathon!

Washington, DC - Soracha McGrath

Soracha McGrath.

Dia dhuit! My name is Soracha, I’m 25 years old, and I’m honoured to be representing the U.S. capital as the 2025 Washington D.C. Rose. I was born in Dublin and have had the joy of calling both Ireland and Washington D.C. home throughout my life. My wonderful parents are originally from Claremorris, County Mayo—which holds a special place in my heart. I spent part of my childhood there and developed a lifelong love for Mayo GAA - Up Mayo! I currently work as a Junior Professional Associate at the World Bank Group, the world’s largest development organisation. It’s incredibly rewarding to contribute to the mission of ending poverty and create a more sustainable planet. I earned my bachelor’s degree from University College Dublin, in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics, and this fall, I’ll be starting a Master’s program at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business—an exciting new chapter! Outside of work, I love practicing yoga, going for runs, baking, and of course, supporting Mayo GAA. Representing D.C. as the 2025 Rose is truly a dream come true

Western Canada - Ciara Confrey

Ciara Confrey.

Hi everyone! My name is Ciara, I am 26 years old and originally from Newbridge, County Kildare. I moved to Calgary, Canada when I was 15 and have been here ever since! I transferred to high school here and went on to pursue a career in Medical Esthetics through Delmar College, where I graduated with honours in 2019. Since then, I have gone on to work in some of the top ranked clinics in Calgary, became an educator at the college I graduated from and then went on to being the Admission Advisor and Director for that college. I have won various awards for singing, dancing and acting and also have created programs in which services are offered at no cost to the parents residing at the Ronald McDonald House in Calgary. In my spare time I love singing, painting, baking, and spending time with my daughter, Mia, who is almost 1 year old! I’m so excited for this journey and can’t wait to meet all my fellow roses! Slán!