22


East Cork


info@eastcorkjournal.ie Macra na Feirme


on his Rose of Tralee experience.


MB: So Dónal, thanks


for your time. To begin why did you decide to take part in the Rose of Tralee? DOC: I suppose it’s a


massive festival and I had got a taste


for being an


escort from a few Macra personality competitions down over the years. So the idea was sparked by that and it was the Inter- national Rose Of Tralee Festival that stuck out for me the most. There is a fantastic prestige in being Rose Escort. So I said I would apply and see what way it went from there.


MB: Sounds good


Dónal, what have you done so far to prepare for the Rose Festival?


DOC: I did an interview • Dónal O’Callaghan (Rose Escort 2018). and


Former Chairperson Club President


Dónal O’Callaghan is spreading his Macra wings as he takes part in the


International


Rose of Tralee festival as an Escort. The Rose


of Tralee is celebrating it’s 59th


Irish ancestry birthday this


year and it is a celebra- tion of young women with


from around the globe. As an Escort, Dónal will have to put for-


ward his finest foot to ensure his Rose has an enjoyable festival. Gl- anmire Macra’s Club Joint-PRO, Michael Buckley caught up with the Watergrasshill na- tive to get some insight


and a group interview back in April which was the start of everything. It went from there to Boot Camp in the wild wild West Ker- ry where 70 Rose Escorts were put through their paces. This was a great way to introduce all the Rose Escorts to each other and the Rose Escort Team. They took our phones off us on the Friday of the June Bank Holiday so we had no other choice but to get on with each other. We had an excellent time camping under the stars for


the weekend doing


various tasks and activi- ties.. It was brilliant craic. Then I guess we waited for “the call”. This is the call


Tel: 021 463 8000 • Email: info@eastcorkjournal.ie • Web: www.eastcorkjournal.ie


Thursday, 9th


August 2018


info@eastcorkjournal.ie Deadline Monday at noon


Dónal O Callaghan to take part in International Rose of Tralee Festival


to see if I was one of the successful applicants and fortunately enough I got the nod.


There was an evening


where a dozen Roses and Rose Escorts were invited to the Killarney Race s and I was in attendance at that which was a brilliant evening and I would like to thank the Rose Hotel and Killarney Races for invit- ing us down.


run in to the Rose Festival. What


MB: You had a busy other preparations


have you had to make? DOC: Yeah kept go- I guess I had


ing now.


to look the part which meant I needed to update the wardrobe. Under the watchful eye of my mother I went to the Suit Shop in Fermoy and Mick Mur- phy’s in North Main St in Cork City who were bril- liant in kitting me out for my week down in Tralee.


MB: The Rose Festival


obviously involves a lot of commitment, as a full time farmer, how are you bal- ancing the farm and your preparation for the Rose of Tralee? DOC: It’s busy alright.


This drought has added work like feeding which wouldn’t


be


silage the


norm this time of the year. But sure look it’s just a case of finishing a little later in the evening and putting down the head and driving on .


MB: Great stuff Dónal,


tell me what are you hop- ing to get from your expe- rience as a Rose Escort? DOC: Obviously the


week of the festival 17th -21st


epic week. But really


of August will be an I


think what I look forward to most is the friendships that will be forged from the week in Tralee with such fabulous people from the Roses , Rose Escorts and the Rose of Tralee management team .


I’m


looking forward to getting to know so many different people and hope to create memories that will last a life time. Also there will be a chance to travel also with these great people so that is always a great experience to come from anything you do in life.


MB: Going back to your connection with Macra na Feirme, are there any sim- ilarities


between Macra


and the Rose of Tralee? DOC: I suppose if you stand back and really look at both organisations they have similarities. They both have a massive team behind the scenes to keep it alive and a lot of volun- tary time given by great people who give their time. Also they celebrate young people


of Irish descent.


I know Macra is more national based and the


eastcorkjournal Finally I would urge


everybody as a family day out or a mini holiday to visit Tralee. The Rose of Tralee is happening be- tween 17th


and the 21st of


August. It’s a jam packed fun filled festival with heaps to do for all the fam- ily from street parades to fashion shows. Live bands to


the crowning of the


2018 Rose of Tralee. See you there every body. Best of luck to Dónal


during the Rose of Tralee from all in Glanmire Mac- ra na Feirme.


Reminder that our bowling


league is open to everyone and takes place in the Leisureplex Monday at 9pm.


You can


find us on Facebook https:// www.facebook.com/ glanmiremacranafeirme/ or contact our secretary Gillian on 0877558026.


@eastcorkjournal / #eastcorkjournal MB: As the former


Chairperson and Presi- dent of Glanmire Macra na Feirme, how does the Rose of Tralee challenge compare to your past re- sponsibilities? DOC: Having held


these positions in a boom- ing club like Glanmire, it’s been a great help to me for dealing with the responsi- bilities of being part of the Escort Team at the Rose of Tralee. You have to be a team player and have a common sense approach to the whole thing as well. I feel having held these po- sitions greatly


enhanced


my chances of being cho- sen back last April through the selection process and no doubt will continue to serve me when I’m in Tralee.


for


MB: Thanks Dónal your time, any last


thoughts you’d like to add? DOC: Firstly I would like to thank my sponsors Cormac Tagging, South- ern Milling, Goulding Fertilisers, Glanbia Agri- business, Dan Ryan Hedge Cutting for their kindness in supporting me to get to the Rose of Tralee.


Also I would like to thank all my family and friends for their unbelieva- ble support from the time I first said that I was inter- ested in being an Escort to helping me with my work life balance when I take part in the Rose Festival.


Rose of Tralee has centres worldwide but they still celebrate young men and women.


It’s great to be


involved with two fantastic organisations!


MB: Well said Dónal,


what would you say to any- one looking to take part in the Rose Festival and/or Macra in the future? DOC: Take it on and


give it your best shot. Take all the opportunities that come your way be it in Macra na Feirme or the Rose of Tralee. Don’t hold back , you won’t regret it!


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