A Donegal teacher has been named as the 2014 London Rose of Tralee.
A delighted Saoirse Faughnan is crowned the 2014 London Rose of Tralee.
Saoirse Faughnan from Letterkenny, is a secondary school teacher at the Burnt Mill Academy in Essex.
The 24-year-old was selected from 14 other hopefuls at the annual London Rose of Tralee selection ball at the Crown Moran Hotel, Cricklewood on Saturday night.
She wowed the judges with her rendition of the popular W.B. Yeat poem, The Lake Isle of Inishfree, which she recited half in English and half as Gaeilge.
She also impressed the 250-strong audience with her passion for education and her aim to provide the young people of London with a fun and friendly learning environment.
She also spoke of her pride at being Irish in London and how the recent visit by the Irish President Michael D Higgins will remain a historic event in her life.
As an avid supporter of Donegal GAA, Saoirse also has high hopes for your county team to steal the All-Ireland title back this year.
Saoirse was in a state of shock and denial, as she clasped her face into her hand, when her name was called out by chairman of the London Rose Centre Noel O’Sullivan.
She said: “I am in a state of euphoria and ecstatic and truly honored to be presented the sash by the outgoing London Rose Grace Kenny. I am honored to take on this role for my family and for London and go on to represent every single Irish person in London. I hope I can complete it with passion and pride.”
Saoirse will now go forward to the Rose of Tralee Regional finals in Portlaoise from the 29th of May to the 1st of June.
She follows in the footsteps of outgoing London Rose Grace Kenny who was on hand to present Saoirse with her official London Rose sash.
Other guests of honor on the night included Mayor of Kerry Seamus Fitzgerald.
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