Elysha arrives home from tralee adventure

The 2015 International Rose of Tralee, Elysha Brennan, was welcomed home to the Royal County tonight with a reception at Fair Green, Navan.

Elysha, from Bettystown, arrived in a open-top Rolls Royce in the company of Meath Rose organiser, Gordon Weldon, and the Escort of the Year, Shane Kenny, to be greeted by the cathaoirleach of Meath County Council, Cllr Brian Fitzgerald, the Mayor of Navan, Cllr Joe Reilly, and the cathaoirleach of the Laytown-Bettystown municipal district, Cllr Paddy Meade.

Ahead of her were eight of the other Roses and their escorts, from Dublin, Philadelphia, Kildare, Tipperary, Scotland, Cavan, Cork and Darwin in Australia, represented by Cathriona Brennan from Ratoath. The CEO of the Rose of Tralee Festival, Anthony O'Gara was also present.

Elysha Brennan told MC Gerry Kelly it had been an absolute whirlwind and an amazing experience since she was named winner of the overall competition, and said it all started in the Newgrange Hotel where she won the Meath Rose final four months ago.

She rounded off the evening with the party piece she performed for Daithi O Se in the Dome at the Tralee festival.