First Christmas in County Roscommon as an Irish citizen 'the best Christmas present' ever for Vanessa
Vanessa Malone was conferred with Irish citizenship earlier this month. Pic: Gerard O'Loughlin
A Bolivian woman has described the prospect of spending her first Christmas in County Roscommon as an Irish citizen as “the best Christmas present ever for me and my family”.
Vanessa Malone was conferred with Irish citizenship at a “beautiful and well-organised” ceremony at the Gleneagle INEC Arena in Killarney earlier this month, having moved to Ireland nearly 11 years ago.
After spending some time in Dublin and Galway, Vanessa — who is originally from Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, in the heart of South America — moved to Castlerea in August 2017 with her husband Mark, who is a native of the town. They have three children — Ivanna, Cameron and Jake.
“I live in a great community, and I feel very much part of it. The people have been so welcoming and friendly,” Vanessa told the Roscommon Herald.
Vanessa is very much integrated in the local community. She is a familiar and friendly face at Castlerea Garden Centre, which is run by her husband Mark.
She organises a spring clean around the town, is a member of the local Agricultural Show Committee and takes part in the annual Darkness Into Light fundraiser for Pieta House.
During the Covid pandemic, she completed an online florist course. In September, she undertook a full-time healthcare assistant course with Roscommon Women’s Network.
She also competes in the Women’s Mini-Marathon for the Irish Cancer Society and Féileacáin — the latter charity being very close to her heart following the stillbirth of her son Michael Patrick in 2017 shortly after she moved to Castlerea.
“I’ve been overwhelmed by people’s reaction to me becoming an Irish citizen. Even people I don’t know are stopping me in the shop and congratulating me.
“I feel happy, grateful and blessed. I owe so much to this community and my husband Mark and his family. I can proudly say that I’m the only person from Bolivia living in Castlerea and now I’m an Irish citizen as well.”
