Story by Sofía Basurto
[Audio: Crowd noise at the Rose of Tralee event]
Sofía Basurto
Grace Mallo is in Charlotte, North Carolina competing to be the North Carolina Rose. She doesn’t have to do anything specific to compete, except be Irish.
The Rose of Tralee is an international event celebrated by Irish communities all over the world. The North Carolina winner gets to travel to Ireland, and compete again for the final crowning of the rose.
It’s not a pageant. Participants aren’t judged on their looks but rather their personality and character. It’s more of a celebration of Irish women, creating a community for them, and crowning the selected winner as a rose based on who would be the best ambassador for the festival.
This festival goes back to 1959. North Carolina has been participating since 2013.
Chantel Cassidy is the director of the Rose of Tralee festival in North Carolina. She won herself in 2015, having grown up hearing about it from her family in Ireland.
Chantel Cassidy, Director of the Rose of Tralee Festival in NC
“My whole life I’ve been told this is such an honor, that this was an amazing thing for an Irish woman to receive and get to be a part of.”
Sofía Basurto
Cassidy visited local businesses, families, museums, and was immersed in the different cultures of the different counties in Ireland.
As for the competition in North Carolina, it looks a little similar.
[Audio: Irish pub ambiance]
Sofía Basurto
Participants start out in individual interviews with judges, then group interviews. They have photoshoots and then the group moves into Charlotte visiting local businesses. They made a stop at Connolly’s Irish Pub, to hang out and pour Guinnesses for each other, a known Irish staple.
[Audio: Pouring Guinnesses]
Sofía Basurto
Then they come back and get ready for the evening portion. Which is another set of interviews, except in front of a large audience. At the end, a single girl is crowned the Rose of North Carolina.
Jessica Heinrich, Former North Carolina Rose
“My name is Jessica Heinrich. I was actually the very first North Carolina rose.”
Sofía Basurto
Heinrich first heard about it from her mom. She thought if anything, she would just meet some other Irish girls from the area. Instead she ended up winning, and getting to go to Ireland. She even got recognized at the airport just for being a rose.
But the best part of winning was the connections she made with her culture and the other girls.
Jessica Heinrich, Former North Carolina Rose
“To actually, like, go and live and breathe and just be a part of it with all of these other women who are similar to me, was just such a rewarding experience.”
Sofía Basurto
This sentiment is echoed throughout the contestants of today. They’ve been so happy to just connect with others about being Irish.
Olivia Hewett was born in Manchester to Irish parents, and spent her childhood vacationing in Ireland with family. After migrating to the United States, she felt she was different within her community.
Olivia Hewett, North Carolina Rose Contestant
“I sounded different. My family dynamic was different. But as I got older, I really loved that I was from here and I love my heritage in my past.”
Sofía Basurto
And just participating in the Rose of Tralee has been the place to do that.
Olivia Hewett, North Carolina Rose Contestant
“It’s just really nice to find girls my age and the community as well so that I can create an atmosphere for, you know, my kids or my younger family members that my mom has created for me through her Irish connections.”
Sofía Basurto
Hewett doesn’t have to be crowned Rose to feel like she’s won something.
Olivia Hewett, North Carolina Rose Contestant
“Honestly, being able to participate in this in general is a win for everybody. I’m just excited to see who gets it.”
Sofía Basurto
I’m Sofía Basurto reporting.
