Outgoing Rose of Tralee Katelyn Cummins has described her year in the role as ‘incredible’.
The Ballyouskil woman, who represented Laois in the 2025 contest, says she plans to return and complete her apprenticeship, with two years remaining, despite her busy year in the media spotlight.
She has developed a passion for public speaking and digital media and is planning a new podcast expected to launch in September or October.
Katelyn says she has loved meeting people and taking part in more than 270 events over the past year.
She told KCLR News’ Martin Quilty how she feels as the end of her reign looms, saying; “I’m trying not to, you’ve kinda got me teared up a bit here now, yeah, no I haven’t thought about it, I’m trying so hard not to because I’m trying to live in the moment, and I think that’s what I’ve done a lot this year, tried to live in the moment, I’m going to be delighted for whatever girl gets announced as the 2026 Rose of Tralee because it is a journey that you bring yourself on and you get to say yes or no to whatever events you want throughout the year, it’s a journey that you make your own and it’s one that you get to kinda celebrate being you for an entire year which is so incredible”.
Meanwhile, Kilkenny Rose Rachel Walsh from Threecastles, who studies at SETU Carlow, is due on stage tonight after the first contenders to take the sash and crown were featured last night.
If you missed that, catch up on the RTÉ Player here.
