This year’s Westmeath Rose, Grace O’Connor has spoken of her excitement at representing her County in next week’s Rose of Tralee, and is dedicating her participation to her late brother, Ryan. Ryan passed away before Christmas in 2023, with Grace saying he was integral in motivating her to enter into the Westmeath Rose competition held in April.
“It’s all for him now at this point,” said the 21 year-old Killucan native, who is a daughter to Deirdre and Willie. “I would not have done it if it was not for him. He was the one who thought I was well able and pushed me, even as a joke.
