INTERVIEW: 'It feels unbelievable' - Laois Rose Katelyn Cummins on historic Rose of Tralee win

Katelyn Cummins was crowned the 2025 International Rose of Tralee on Tuesday night.

The 20-year-old apprentice electrician is the 65th woman to win the competition and the first ever from Laois.

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Speaking to Katelyn today on her first morning as the Rose, she said it still hadn't quite sunk in: "I'm still processing the win."

Her name was announced live on RTÉ One by Dáithí Ó Sé and Kathryn Thomas from the Kerry Sports Academy at MTU just before 11.30pm.

After being crowned, Katelyn was whisked through the streets of Tralee to be formally presented to the crowds at Midnight Madness, where thousands gathered for music, celebrations, and a fireworks display.

Katelyn, who had only got 20 minutes of sleep after her historic win, looked radiant in her new sash.

Ms Cummins, who was only told this morning that she is the first ever Laois Rose, said "it feels unbelievable and is an honour to hold that title".

It's tradition that the winning Rose's locality hosts a homecoming to welcome back their local girl, and this year will be no different. Katelyn said, “We’re thinking maybe Saturday night in Ballyouskill".

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Katelyn broke the mould of the stereotypical Rose when she revealed she is training to be an electrician. Passionate about her career, Katelyn wants to raise awareness for women about the different career opportunities available to them, particularly the non-traditional ones.

"I think women think that they really need to go to college and that's not the case.

"For me, I knew I didn't want to go to college. It didn't seem like a path that was for me, so after some advice from my dad, I went on work experience with the local electrician".

Born and bred on a dairy farm, Katelyn knew working with her hands was the right choice for her - "after my week on work experience, I knew it was for me, I absolutely loved it".

Now with her platform as the Rose of Tralee, Katelyn said, "I'm absolutely delighted to represent women in the trade world".

Katelyn was the only girl in her class for her apprenticeship and found herself the only woman again at her place of work Alpha Drive in Portlaoise. Taking part in the festival has been a pleasant change for the 20-year-old.

"Being surrounded by women has been such a refreshing experience, it has given me such confidence and a sense of empowerment being surrounded by the 31 other women ".

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Katelyn has a connection with roses that predates the festival. The 20-year-old showed off the beautiful rose tattoo on her back last night on the stage with host Kathryn Thomas, explaining that the inspiration came from her great granny's garden, who passed away in 2023.

The Ballyouskill native was not short of things to discuss during her on-stage interview, but she did choose to leave one topic out.

Katelyn wears a cochlear implant and said, "I chose not to talk about it as I wanted my interview to be about my personality and not my hearing disability".

Looking ahead to her year as the Rose of Tralee, Ms Cummins said she is looking forward to "travelling the world, seeing new cultures, meeting so many new people and making new experiences and memories for a lifetime".