Rose Homecoming...‘I was overcome, it’s a memory I will treasure for the rest of my life’

An Oldcastle woman who is representing Perth in the Rose of Tralee says being reunited with her family at a surprise homecoming party will be "a memory she will treasure forever."

Olivia Duffy (29) was overcome with emotion as she arrived home to a cheering crowd made all the more special as she hadn't seen her family or friends in three years having been separated by the pandemic.

The radiation therapist who moved to Western Australia in 2019 will kick off her Rose duties later this week but is enjoying catching up with loved ones.

"I was totally overcome, I think it's a memory that I will treasure for the rest of my life," she said. I'll never forget it. When we were coming down the road into Oldcastle, there were so many signs and posters that local businesses and families had out on the verges.

"As we were coming in I could see all of these flags and there was a huge crowd outside my primary school, my neighbours, our parish priest Father Ray, my friends, people I would have grown up with everyone was there with banners and they were all cheering.

"When I got out of the car my legs were like jelly it was incredible. It was so nice to be home and see everyone in the flesh."

Just hours before Olivia's parents Mary and Martin Duffy were set to fly out and visit the frontline worker in 2020, they were left devastated when their flights were cancelled as the pandemic took hold of the world.

"It was hard because I'm really close to my family," recalled Olivia. " When I went out we had planned that they were going to come out, I was so looking forward to seeing them but I was more gutted for them they missed out on a holiday.

"It was the not knowing that was the hardest because if you know and you are free to travel there's a comfort in that but when there was no end in sight that was quite hard because you felt in limbo."

Olivia is looking forward to being a part of the festival that she never imagined she would be chosen for as she explains:

"I never expected my name to be called out, I was just so thrilled to be a part of it and going for it. In our house, the Rose of Tralee was a big thing so the fact that I was even just able to wear a sash saying I was an entrant for Perth I was thrilled with that. I was so honoured.

"We will be going to Wexford on the 11th, that's when the tour kicks off for the roses to travel around Ireland and see all of the sights, that goes on until the 19th where we end up back in Tralee and that's when the festival kicks off.

"I'm so excited, I can't wait to meet all of the other roses and everyone who is part of the festival."

A past student of Gilson National School and St Oliver's Post Primary School, Oldcastle, Olivia completed her degree in Trinity College before going on to work in St Luke's Hospital as a radiation therapist. She left for Western Australia to take up a post in Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth. The expat says she always knew she wanted to dedicate her life to helping people. She added:

"Growing up you would have always heard of someone who was affected by cancer and it always captured my attention, I was always intrigued by it and wanted to learn about the disease. My mum and dad always inspired me they did a lot of volunteering the community and they always told me and my sister to help others and to try and give back.

"I'm happiest when I'm helping people, I love my patients, I love making a difference."