New Zealand’s eely O’Grady has been crowned the 2024 International Rose of Tralee, defeating 31 other contestants in one of Ireland’s largest festivals as more than a million people tuned in on Tuesday evening to watch the event.
The 64th Rose of Tralee International Festival, which is a contest for women from around the world of Irish descent, make their official announcements two days following the conclusion of the event’s competition.
O’Grady, a University of Canterbury student, says that “can’t really put it into words” what the win meant, according to the New Zealand Herald.
“What I’m most looking forward to is doing this for my country” she said when addressing the audience at the Kerry Sports Academy, where the event was help. “As someone from New Zealand, we’ve only had two New Zealand Roses, the last time was in 1988, so it does really mean a lot to me.”
O’Grady, who was born in New Zealand and raised by her Irish father and Kiwi mother, described what it was like when she heard her name called as the winner, saying “It doesn’t feel real.”
