Emer Dineen, from Castlegregory, Co Kerry, is the favorite for the 2024 competition, which is due to take place from August 16, and has a very impressive profile that is sure to impress the judges in her native county.
Emer is a pediatric radiographer and certainly has many strings to her bow, acting as a part-time lifeguard, a gaelgeoir [Irish language speaker], a charity volunteer for Barrettstown and is even learning LÁMH (Irish Sign Language), which has earned her a 4/1 chance of winning the annual competition.
A spokesperson for Ladbrokes, Nicola McGee, said: "It’s getting to that time of year where all eyes turn to Tralee. The Kerry Rose is the big favorite; however, she has some real competition from near and far who will be vying for Rose glory."
Following close behind, with a 6/1 chance of emerging victorious, is Megan McCormack. The Sligo Rose is no stranger to the competition, as she is a senior Sligo Gaelic football player and avid soccer player for Gurteen Celtic. The 25-year-old substitute teacher spends her time spreading her love for GAA.
Hailing from all the way down under, Ashling Heneghan, a speech pathologist, is also an avid GAA player in Sydney. She was born in Mayo. Heneghan, who is presently 8/1 to win, served as Trinity College Dublin’s athletics track captain twice.
Leaving Ireland and heading across the Atlantic, Chicago Rose and 10-time world-qualifying Irish Dancer Megan Cahill currently sits at 10/1.
Cahill has participated in Chicago’s well-known St. Patrick’s Day parade and has long surrounded herself with Irish culture. She has an extended Irish family consisting of 41 relatives.
Ciara O’Sullivan, a native of Cork, will compete as the Dubai Rose. She is a teacher there at the moment and proudly plays Gaelic football for the Dubai Celts. At 10/1, she finishes fifth in the betting.
The top five for this year’s Rose of Tralee, according to Ladbrokes, is as follows:
- 4/1 – Kerry – Emer Dineen
- 6/1 – Sligo – Megan McCormack
- 8/1 – Sydney – Ashling Heneghan
- 10/1 – Chicago – Megan Cahill
- 10/1 – Dubai – Ciara O’Sullivan
* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.
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