Caladh Nua Concert & Events This Weekend

What a fantastic night of music and fun. The band delivered a stellar performance at the Residence of the Irish Ambassador to a packed audience that over-flowed onto camping chairs of all shapes and sizes. The support was overwhelming and I was greatful to say that least!

Thanks a million to Austin and Laura who played a major role in organizing the event from start to finish and did a fantastic job.

ALSO - a very heartfelt thanks to the other Roses who all turned out at the event and mingled with the crowd. Its always nice to catch up with the girls :) Alice, if unfortunately in Ireland at the moment so she did not make it to this event but, we're all very excited for her year to come as she's recently been enganged! Congratulations Alice! - he's one lucky man.

This Weekend: The Final Word!

Saturday July 30 - I'll be attending the ceili at the Bytown Museum from 2:30-4
Sunday July 31 - Find my at the Bicycle Chic Fashion show, riding a bike down the catwalk sporting fashions by Green Tree Eco Fashions (Richmond Road) downtown. Not sure when the fashion show starts but, call time for hair and makeup is at 12:00 noon at the Lord Elgin!

Wish me well in Ireland via the Rose of Tralee Website!

You can now show your support online via the Rose of Tralee ie. website.

Go to: http://roseoftralee.ie/v5/blog/rose-well-wishers and email rebecca@roseoftralee.ie with your well wishes for me! Your message will be posted on the website for myself and the rest of the world to read :)

I'd greatly appreciate a show of support. Don't forget to start your message with my name and "OTTAWA ROSE" so I know it's for me!

Thanks a million!
Kate

Follow me this week!!

Events this week:                       
                       Thursday July 28, 2011
                                                7PM Caladh Nua Concert, Residence of the Irish Ambassador
                      
                       Saturday July 30, 2011
                                                2-5PM Ceili on the Canal Bytown Museum
                                                Irish Day at Confederation Square

               Sunday July 31, 2011
                                                Bicycle Chic Fashion Show details to follow

Also, I just got these photos sent to me from Sarah Thorenton! Check them out!

26 days till departure!

So, I'm 26 days out from departing for Ireland and I'm starting to make my lists.

I have lists for everyone, everything, everwhere...

I need 11 day dresses and 9 evening dresses - 3 of which are full length ballgowns and of course a few extras. Fortunately, I found a silk designer gown at Winners that was originally $695.00 that I got for $49.99  HORAYYYY!!! Its a plain black flowing design and I'm hoping to get a great belt to make it a little more of a statement dress...there is something to be said for quiet elegance though.

I've been trying so desperately not to touch my saving account as I'm going back to school in September of 2012 and this is my year off to "make money" not spend money but, its been difficult when I'm being dragged - kicking and screaming  - into the boutiques to shop (.....riiiiiiight)

My mum is also working on dresses for me to sport in Tralee so I'm sure I'll wear those more than once...after all, they fit to a T so I'll want to wear them often and my mum will want to see her work in action in Tralee...I mean hey, if Kate Middleton can wear a dress more than once (I can't believe people were giving her flack for that!) then so can I!

One of my lists is of the shoes I'm bringing with me and I've come to see that I don't have shoes for a couple of my outfit...so off to that mall I go with my dear friend Amber after work today...tough life!

Well, that's all for now. Please don't forget about the Caladh Nua concert next Thursday and if this is the first time you are reading about it, please scroll down to get full details along with links to a site which allows you to purchase tickets online!

Cheers!

List of Finalists going to tralee in August :D

Qualifiers that are going through from Portlaoise to the International Regional Final:

1. Big Apple - Caitlin McNeill
2. Boston New England - Moira Sullivan
3. Chicago - Siobhan Carroll
4. Derby - Niamh McTage
5. Derry - Catherine Feeney
6. Donegal - Maria McCole
7. Down - Nicole Curran
8. Dubai - Grainne Boyle
9. Edmonton - Tara Keigher
10. Germany - Saoirse Fitzgerald
11. Laois - Sinead Fennell
12. New York - Erin Loughran
13. Ottawa - Kate Scott
14. Philadelphia - Beth Keeley
15. Roscommon - Roisin Guihen
16. San Francisco - Shelia Ashtiani
17. Southern California - Molly O'Keefe
18. Sunderalnd - Niamh O'Connell
19. Texas - Danielle Ybarra
20. Tipperday - Noirin Ryan
21. Toronto - Aileen Doyle
22. Washington DC - Dorothy Moriarty Henggeler
23. Wexford - Mary Kehoe

Other Roses who are joining us (they went straight through to the final due to the number of years their centres have been involved in the competition):
  24.    Cork - Kathryn Brennan
   25.    Dublin - Siobhéal Nic Eochaidh
   26.    Kerry - Síle Ní Dheargain
   27.    London - Caroline Marley
   28.    New Zealand - Ailbhe Ryan
   29.    Perth - Melanie Gore
   30.    Queensland - Tara Talbot
   31.    South Austra - Susan Gellard    
   32.    Sydney - Caroline Harney

 CONGRATULATIONS to all the other roses we've yet to meet!  These girls all went through several rounds of selections in their home town and have accomplished so much in so little time.
Go to http://roseoftralee.ie/v5/international-roses-2011/international-roses-2011 to read all of the girls biographies!

Next up...day to day breakdown of my time in Portlaoise!

Caladh Nua Concert July 28th 7:30PM

Come mingle with the 2011 Roses at the Residence of the Irish Ambassador on Thursday July 28th, 2011 and enjoy a live concert by Ireland's own CALADH NUA!

Tickets can be purchased from me directly or, online at:
http://www.ticketweb.ca/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=3532875&pl&REFERRAL_ID=twfblike

Watch them on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLPJjTYrg1M&feature=grec_index

A Night at the Races, Regionals & Celtfest June-July 2011

So, its been far too long since I posted anything here so I figured I would take a few minutes and update everyone on the going ons of the last couple months!

A Night at the Races
Just before I departed for Ireland in June, the girls and I took part in A Night at the Races for the Ottawa Gaels and we had a wonderful night. Kerianne, Kait, Lisa, Laura and I enjoyed great conversation over dinner and got to ride aroun in the pace car for the Rose of Tralee race. Great fun indeed. Below are a few pictures of us at the event.

Regional Finals
I left for Ireland on June 1st and returned on June 9th, 2011 and had an absoluately wonderful time with all the girls in Portlaoise over the weekend.
When I have a few more minutes to post I will put up a play by play of my week in Portlaoise but, until then, let me get to the juicy stuff and say....

I'M THROUGH TO THE FINAL!!!!!

I return to Ireland for the Rose of Tralee final on August 14th :)

All the girls at Regionals in Portlaoise at the Hertitage Hotel

The FINALISTS (we will be joined by a few more girls for the final in August)

*I'm beside Texas :)....Look for the hat and I'm on the left!

Celtfest - Sunday June 10, 2011 Almonte, ON

I was introduced and spoke a little bit about the Rose of Tralee in Almonte this weekend at Celtfest. It was a lovely day filled with music, dancing, and laughter. I was happy to get the Almonte residence familiar with the Rose of Tralee and what its about and get them pumped up about the idea of getting an Almonte girl to compete for the title next year (Almonte wasn't represented in the Ottawa selection this year).

Waiting backstage to perform at Celtfest!

Corkery Road onstage at Celtfest

A big thank you to my boyfriend Chris for lugging around the harp and getting it set up for me onstage - you're a gem :)

More pictures to come shortly...I forgot my camera so, this one was taken with my phone. Luckily, Lisa Wright came to represent the rest of the girls and had her camera in tow ;)

Keep an eye out for my next postS which will include a play by play of the Regional Finals in Portlaoise & DETAILS ON THE CALADH NUA CONCERT!