There was an emotional pre-Rose of Tralee moment for the Denver Rose, Tiffany Antikainen and the Philadelphia Rose, Elizabeth Spellman, who were presented with Certificates of Irish Heritage at Croke Park this week.
Tiffany’s Irish ancestor Jeremiah Horrigan emigrated from Mayo to the USA in the 1850s. Elizabeth’s grandfather Allen Flood left Sligo for New York in 1928 and she can also trace her Irish heritage to counties Mayo, Galway and Cork. The Roses were among 15 overseas Roses who gathered on the Etihad Skyline for the celebratory event.
Both Roses were presented with their certificates by leading Kerryman, Dick Spring.
The Certificate of Irish Heritage is a Government document, signed by An Tanaiste, Eamon Gilmore, as an official recognition of a person’s Irish ancestry by the Government of Ireland. Anyone in Ireland can give one of these beautiful certificates to their relatives or contacts overseas, as a permanent reminder of the deep emotional ties which link Irish families and communities together.
Each certificate is a personal record of the recipient’s Irish roots, showing the name of their Irish ancestor and the town or parish in Ireland from which they came. The certificate is a keepsake that can be passed on to future generations.
This year’s Rose of Tralee International Festival will get under way today (Friday August 17 ).
Certificates are issued by the Government of Ireland, at a fee of €40. See www.heritagecertificate.ie for full information.
