Roscommon Rose Rebecca cherishes memories made in Tralee

While she may not have returned home with the Rose of Tralee crown, Rebecca Collins came back to Roscommon with something she treasures even more: unforgettable memories, lifelong friendships and a deep appreciation for the community that carried her every step of the way.

Representing Roscommon on one of Ireland’s most famous stages was a dream the young Kiltoom woman had watched unfold on television for years from the comfort of her family home. This year, she was no longer in the audience. She was wearing the Roscommon sash herself, preparing to walk onto the stage of the Dome in Tralee.

Looking back now, it still feels surreal.

Rebecca, a teacher at Our Lady’s Bower, Athlone, arrived in Tralee on August 14th after more than a week touring around Ireland alongside the other Roses. After days away from home, a special welcome awaited.

“We had been away for nearly a week at that stage, seeing familiar faces again and getting that welcome into Tralee was special,” she recalled. “It was also the moment where it really hit you – we’re finally here!”

The atmosphere in Kerry was unlike anything she had ever experienced. Crowds lined the streets, people stopped for photographs, and some even asked for autographs.

“It was like an out-of body experience,” she admitted.

For Rebecca, however, what stood out most was never the glamour or the attention. Instead, it was the people she met and the connections she formed.

Although the Roses were technically competing against one another, she said it never felt that way.

“Everyone wanted each other to do well, and I think that’s one of the nicest things I took away from the experience,” she said.

Those friendships were forged during an action-packed schedule of tours, events and shared adventures. One memory, in particular, still makes her smile.

At Ballybunion Beach, she and several fellow Roses spontaneously decided to run straight into the sea, fully dressed, with their hair and makeup perfectly done.

“It probably wasn’t the most sensible decision we made on the tour, but it was definitely one of the most memorable!” she laughed.

Yet among all the fun, Rebecca’s most treasured moments came during visits to nursing homes and rehabilitation centres in Tralee.

“I absolutely loved getting the chance to sit down, chat with the residents and hear their stories,” she said.

Those conversations reminded her of the true spirit at the heart of the festival: connection, kindness and community.

Community, in fact, was the thread that ran through her entire Rose journey.

From her family and friends to colleagues at Our Lady’s Bower, members of Kiltoom Drama Group, parishioners and supporters from across Roscommon, she never felt alone.

“It was so special to look out into the crowd and see so many familiar faces who had made the journey to Tralee to support me,” she said.

She is especially grateful to everyone who worked behind the scenes, sending messages of encouragement, organising events and offering support throughout the process.

“My family and friends were incredible, as were my colleagues in school. There were so many people helping behind the scenes, sending messages, organising things and supporting me,” she said.

She also paid tribute to Yvonne and Sharon of the Roscommon Rose Centre, who supported her from the moment she was selected.

“They were there for me from the minute I was selected and were always only a phone call away if I needed anything.”

Reflecting on the experience, she believes her involvement with Kiltoom Drama Group helped prepare her for the bright lights of the Dome.

“I’ve been involved in plays for years, so I was used to learning lines, performing in front of an audience and walking out onto a stage,” she said. “I think that made me a little less nervous walking out into the Dome.”

Even so, she admits there is quite a difference between performing in a local parish hall and one of Ireland’s biggest television events.

“Having said that, it was very different from performing in front of a hundred people in the local parish hall in Kiltoom!” she joked.

For Rebecca, winning was never really the point.

The greatest reward was the experience itself: the friendships, the opportunities and the memories that will stay with her forever.

“We had made these amazing friendships, met incredible people and visited places we might never otherwise have had the opportunity to see. In my eyes, every one of us came away a winner.”

Now back in the classroom, life has returned to normal, though perhaps not entirely.

The teacher says the first few minutes of nearly every class have been spent answering questions from curious students eager to hear stories from Tralee.

“To be able to bring that little bit of excitement back into the school and to my community and share the experience with others who had supported me throughout the whole journey was all I could have wanted,” she said.

And if she has one message for whoever follows in her footsteps as the next Roscommon Rose, it is simple.

Take the chance. “I think everybody should do something that scares them a little bit every now and then. Put yourself outside your comfort zone, say yes to something you might normally say no to, and it might just end up being one of the best experiences of your life.”