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Birthday girl Maggie flies in from Chicago to launch search for the 2017 Rose of Tralee

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BIRTHDAY celebrations were put on hold for the Rose of Tralee, Maggie McEldowney, so that she could announce details of the 2017 Rose of Tralee International Festival from August 16-22.

Instead of blowing out the 28 birthday candles in her native city of Chicago on January 2, Maggie arrived into Ireland to launch the search for her successor at the end of a brief tour of counties in Ulster and Leinster.

Sixty-five Roses from Ireland and Irish communities around the globe will travel to Kerry for the seven-day festival while the 2017 Rose of Tralee will be crowned live on RTÉ on Tuesday, August 22.

Whoever is picked as their 2017 county, city, state or national Rose will travel to Tralee in August to enjoy everything that Ireland’s flagship family festival has to offer – parades, gala functions, entertainment, televised Rose selection nights, a Rose Tour and much more.

Maggie McEldowney, who is Director of Development at Marist High School, said: “Entering the Rose of Tralee has been the best decision of my life so far. It is a celebration of all that is good about being Irish and I am encouraging Irish women and those with Irish ancestry to take part in a life changing experience. There is so much more that happens beyond the TV show in August. I was blown away by the amazing people I met during last year's Festival and I am thrilled to be part of the search for the 2017 Rose of Tralee.”

Selections will take place from February to June and anyone interested in entering their local Rose of Tralee event can do so online at www.roseoftralee.ie.

As the Lead Sponsor of the Rose of International Festival, Tipperary Crystal will present, the 2017 Rose of Tralee with a complete collection of Tipperary Crystal Fine Jewellery, a range of high quality products from their Giftware and Homeware Collections. She’ll wear the splendid new featuring the Rose motif as the central framework, adorned in glistening crystals and the exquisitely crafted Crystal Perpetual Trophy.

The next Rose of Tralee will drive away from Tralee in a brand new KIA from McElligotts Tralee, a World Travel Prize valued at €25,000, a weeklong holiday in Kerry from Kerry County Council, a tablet complete with a year’s subscription to Independent.ie, and a bouquet from flowers.ie while Sean Taaffe Group will look after all the hair styling needs of the 2017 Rose of Tralee.

Every return visit to Tralee during the 2017 Rose of Tralee’s reign will be spent in comfort at the magnificent 4-star Rose Hotel, the home to the Rose of Tralee International Festival.

To find details of a Rose Selection near you and to apply online, visit www.roseoftralee.ie.

Maggie celebrated her 28th birthday on January 2. She visited Armagh, Derry, Donegal, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Cavan, Monaghan, Louth and Dublin to promote the search for 2017 Roses in those counties. She will be travelling along with some fellow Roses and Rose Escorts to Belarus with Adi Roche’s Chernobyl Children International in February and will return to Ireland for St Patrick’s Day weekend in March.
 


 
Rose of Tralee Maggie McEldowney was in Dublin at the weekend to officially start the search for her successor and to announce details of the 2017 Rose of Tralee International Festival from August 16-22.
PICTURE: DOMNICK WALSH

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Women’s Aid highlights rising femicide figures following Killarney death

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Women’s Aid highlights rising femicide figures following Killarney death

Following the violent death of Jamey Carney in Killarney on Tuesday, national charity Women’s Aid has released a stark update regarding violence against women in Ireland.

According to the Women’s Aid Femicide Watch for the Republic of Ireland, eight women have died in violent circumstances so far this year.

This figure already exceeds the total of seven women recorded during the entirety of 2025.

Sarah Benson, CEO of Women’s Aid, said:

“Violence, abuse, and even at its extremes, death, are still a reality for many women living in Ireland. After the devastating murder of Ashling Murphy in 2022, Ireland said never again. But Ireland has not lived up to that promise.

“Since then, 40 women have died violently in Ireland. That is 40 women with lives, dreams, family, friends and communities.

“Since we started the Women’s Aid Femicide Watch in 1996, 286 women have died violently in Ireland. Every death is an outrage. An absolute tragic loss of life resulting in utter heartache and trauma for those left behind.

“We are thinking today of those who will be deeply impacted by the loss of life in Killarney. Prevention of all domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is crucial and urgent.”

“The Women’s Aid Femicide Watch shows that 87% of women (where the case has been resolved) were killed by a man known to them. We also know that in Ireland, one in three women has been subjected to domestic abuse of some kind.

“Every woman has the right to be safe in her home and in her community, and this is just not the case. We must do the work required to achieve equality and safety for all, to make Ireland a country that truly has zero tolerance for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.”

Support is available on the Women’s Aid 24-Hour National Freephone Helpline on 1800 341 900, or go to womensaid.ie to use the Instant Message Service or for more information on domestic violence and abuse.”

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Killarney Gardaí await post-mortem results as Muckross Road scene remains cordoned off

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Killarney Gardaí await post-mortem results as Muckross Road scene remains cordoned off

Gardaí investigating the discovery of a woman’s body at a residence on Muckross Road in Killarney are awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination to determine the direction of their inquiries.

It is understood that a full murder investigation is expected to be launched.

The deceased has been named locally as Jamey Carney, an American national in her 40s and the mother of a 13-year-old girl.

The scene at the domestic residence remains cordoned off today for a full technical examination, with a visible Garda presence continuing at the location.

An incident room has been established at Killarney Garda Station under a Senior Investigating Officer. Local businesses in the area have already begun supplying CCTV footage to assisting officers.

Speaking to the Killarney Advertiser, local councillor Martin Grady expressed the deep sense of shock in the area.

“I want to offer my condolences to the family,” Cllr Grady said. “This is an awful shock to the local community. I encourage anyone to come forward with any information they may have to An Garda Síochána. Whoever committed such a crime is a cowardly person and should get the maximum penalty.”

Gardaí continue to appeal to anyone who was in the Muckross Road area between the evening of Monday, July 6 and the afternoon of Tuesday, July 7 to come forward. They are particularly appealing to road users and business owners who may have dashcam or CCTV footage from the area during those times.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Killarney Garda Station on 064 667 1160, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.

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