'Is this the Rose of Mayo?' - Several Mayo connections to Roses in Rose of Tralee 2025
Mayo natives Clara Gardiner and Shauna Sammon took to the Tralee stage last night.
The first night of Rose of Tralee 2025 transpired yesterday evening as the first 18 Roses took to the Tralee stage. The second night will be live on RTÉ from 8pm tonight.
One thing that became common throughout the first show was the Mayo connections among several Roses.
Clara Gardiner represented the green and red county, while four other Roses also have Mayo roots.
Social media was quick to spot the Mayo theme, with one person saying, "Is this the Rose of Mayo?", while another social user said, "Let’s just call it the Mayo Rose of Tralee - two Mayo girls in 10 minutes!"
See the Mayo connections at Rose of Tralee 2025 below:
Clara Gardiner, from Kilfian in North Mayo, impressed on stage while speaking about Ballina, her son, Noah, and her late sister, Jemma, when she was chatting with Dáithí Ó Sé.
Clara also played the guitar and sang 'Song for Ireland', while adding in 'Green and Red of Mayo' during her performance.
Maeve Kelly, from Massachusetts, has Mayo links through one of her maternal grandparents, who is from Claremorris.
Maeve will take to the stage on night two - Tuesday, August 19.
Soracha McGrath, who was born in Dublin, has Mayo connections through her parents, who are also originally from Claremorris.
Shauna Sammon, who is from Westport, represented London during Monday's show.
Fiona Conway, a native of Cleveland, has ancestry that traces back to Doona, Ballycroy, where her great-grandparents were born.
