County Roscommon teacher ready to wear county sash with pride and honour at Rose of Tralee

When Rebecca Collins steps onto the Rose of Tralee stage she will do so carrying with her the encouragement of family, pupils, colleagues, local businesses and communities across County Roscommon.

The 24-year-old secondary school teacher from Kiltoom in South Roscommon will proudly represent the county at the iconic Rose of Tralee Festival from August 14th to 18th.

Daughter of Martin and Fiona Collins, Rebecca teaches Home Economics and Religion at Our Lady’s Bower in Athlone, where she has been described as “a fantastic role model” for students.

She was selected as the Roscommon Rose from 16 contestants at a gala event on March 28th, and since then life has become a busy but memorable mix of preparations, appearances and community visits.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I just want to make the most of every single moment,” Rebecca told the Roscommon Herald. “I’m really looking forward to meeting people from all over the world, representing Roscommon and creating memories that I’ll have for the rest of my life.” Ahead of the festival, she  admits she is feeling a mixture of excitement and nerves, but her focus is on enjoying the experience as it unfolds.

“I know the time will fly by, so at this stage I’m just trying to enjoy every part of the journey and soak up every experience,” she said.

That journey has already shown her a new side of her home county. Through her role as Roscommon Rose, she has visited schools, met local businesses, community groups and volunteers, and has seen first-hand the pride people have in their place.

“The encouragement from my family, my parish of Kiltoom, my colleagues and students in Our Lady’s Bower in Athlone, local businesses, the Roscommon Rose Centre and the wider Roscommon community has been unmatched,” she said.

She described the support she has received from the people of Roscommon as “unbelievable”, adding that it has made the build-up to Tralee all the more special.

“I’m incredibly grateful that I’ll have lots of family, friends and colleagues travelling to Tralee to support me throughout the festival. Knowing they’ll be there means the world and makes me even prouder to represent Roscommon.” From finding dresses and outfits to offering advice and encouragement, the preparation have been “a team effort”.

“I feel incredibly lucky to have such wonderful people behind me throughout this journey,” she added. “I’m incredibly grateful to every business that has gotten behind me. It really reflects the amazing community spirit we have in Roscommon.” 

Community involvement comes naturally to Rebecca, whose life has long been shaped by sport, drama and teaching. The eldest of three children, she has played lead roles in productions including Sive and Steel Magnolias, and has also performed in Dancing at Lughnasa with the local Kiltoom drama group.

Sport has also played a major part in her life. She has won leagues and cups with her soccer teams, and previously played Gaelic football and hockey.

“It’s been busy, but I’m someone who enjoys keeping busy and getting involved in different things,” Rebecca said. “Teaching is my priority and something I’m incredibly passionate about, but sport and drama have always played a huge part in my life too.” 

She believes those experiences have helped prepare her for the Rose of Tralee stage. “They’ve prepared me well for this experience. Sport taught me teamwork, while drama gave me confidence performing in front of crowds. Thankfully I’ve also had incredible support from my school, colleagues, family and friends, which has made balancing everything much easier.” 

For her talent on the night, Rebecca will perform a light-hearted poem she has written herself — a humorous take on trying to find a talent for the Rose of Tralee. “It tells the story of how I somehow ended up here despite convincing myself I didn’t have one – a talent that is. Hopefully it’ll give everyone a laugh,” she said.

Getting to know the other Roses has been another highlight of the experience. Although they are each representing different counties and countries, Rebecca said there is a strong sense of friendship and goodwill among the group.

Closer to home, one of her favourite experiences so far has been visiting her old primary school, Ballybay National School, as well as Curraghboy National School.

“Meeting the students and seeing how excited they were about the Rose of Tralee Festival was incredibly special. Their enthusiasm was infectious and, if anything, made me even more excited for Tralee.” 

Her new role has also introduced her to charitable work across the county. Since being selected, she has become Roscommon ambassador for Mary’s Meals, a charity that provides daily school meals to children in some of the world’s poorest communities, helping them access education.

“As a Home Economics teacher, this charity particularly resonates with me, and I’m incredibly grateful to play a small part in supporting such an important cause,” she said.

As the countdown to Tralee continues, she is determined to embrace every moment of the experience while representing Roscommon with pride.