“It was just a blur,” recalls the 23-year-old of her selection.
“I would love to go back and relive the night, because in my head, there was never even a hope or chance that my name was going to be called.”
On April 25, the Oughterard native and junior infants teacher was selected from a full cohort of 25 young women to be the Galway Rose.
Having spent months getting to know the other girls and talking to judges, the programme culminated in the nerve-wracking stage interview.
“I think I was maybe the 23rd Rose out of 25,” Ms Kenny tells me. “So I was very nervous, waiting to come up on stage. And then just maybe three or four minutes before midnight, they called out my name that I’d be representing Galway at this year’s Rose of Tralee.”
Her aunt had signed her up for the competition, but friends and family had been trying to get her to participate for years.
This time, graduated from university and living at home with a bit of spare time, she went for it. “But I kind of thought the whole experience was going to come to an end.”
Beginning in 1959, The Rose of Tralee competition - based on the old song of the same name - aims to deem which young woman is most “lovely and fair”.
“I think it stays fresh because every year you have 32 new faces all representing where we come from,” says Kenny. “Everyone’s story is different, so it does stay quite topical and quite relevant. Every year there’s a new face, it’s a completely different story for that county to be represented by.”
Bittersweet but special
Becoming the Galway Rose was “very bittersweet and very special” for Kenny’s family. The next day, April 26, marked the fifth anniversary of her mother’s passing from breast cancer.
“To have something to celebrate on that weekend was just so emotional. We never thought that would be a weekend or a date we’d ever be smiling and happy and celebrating on.”
Prior to participating in the Rose competition, Kenny had raised money for Breast Cancer Ireland, eventually working as a brand ambassador for them. The year she started, they raised over one million euros for the charity.
“It was really nice to play a role in raising such a significant amount of money for a charity I can really see the benefits of, something that’s very close to our hearts. It was great to have the opportunity to give back a little bit and remember mom in a positive way.”
But going for the Rose was outside her comfort zone. “It wasn’t something I would have ever put myself forward for. It’s really daunting and I was really nervous but I think that’s kind of how we grow.
“I think maybe losing mom has kind of consolidated that for me and made it really clear how we have to grasp opportunities. Nothing is promised. So not only am I doing it for myself, I’m doing it for her as well.”
Jodie Kenny has been blown away by the support from her community.
“Throughout the whole experience, people believed in me more than I did. The school, the kids I teach, even the judges when I was selected, they were like, you’ve no idea the impact you could have on people – you just need to believe in yourself.”
Looking forward, Ms Kenny would “love, love, love” to travel. And when she comes home, perhaps a doctorate in educational psychology, “to allow myself to work a little bit closer with children who have been through bereavement, been through trauma… I think it’d be very rewarding to work closely with them.”
Friendships
Right now, on tour before the competition next week, the Roses have been bonding. “It’s the UAE Rose’s birthday tonight,” Jodie Kenny tells me. “So we just celebrated her birthday and then we have a gala tonight.”
The tour is awfully busy – the Roses were to visit four counties the day after we spoke. Despite the hectic schedule, “I just feel so lucky to be in this position, to get to represent Galway. I’m not going to stress or worry too much about it. I’m trying to view it more as an experience rather than a competition.
“I feel quite lucky and blessed to have this opportunity to meet all these incredible people from all over the world, to make these connections and be brought around the country and have all these lovely events.
“Obviously it’s a bit nerve wracking, it’s hot on the stage, but I think I’m kind of seeing the bigger picture. I think I would just like to come out with this experience with lifelong memories and a great group of friends.
“I want to look back and think, oh my God, I made the most of that. I had as much fun as I possibly could.”
Jodie Kenny and the other Roses will compete for The Rose of Tralee, airing on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, on Monday, August 17 and Tuesday, August 18, from 8pm.
