UPDATED: FANAD girl Caroline Callaghan has done her county and her adopted Dubai proud on the Rose of Tralee.
There was hardly a dry eye in the Dome this evening as the 24-year-old Dubai Rose read out a heartfelt poem about leaving Ireland behind to move abroad.
Neither Caroline – nor Donegal Rose Catherine McCarron from Raphoe – won the crown as that went to the Texas Rose Haley O’Sullivan.
But both won the hearts of the nation.
Caroline was introduced to the audience via a video recorded in Dubai – getting onto the back of a camel in the dessert heat!
“We half of Donegal with us,” said Daithi as Caroline arrived on stage to a huge cheer from family and friends.
“We’ve a few down all right,” laughed Caroline.
Six of her friends wore special ‘Caroline’ masks for the occasion as she was cheered on by her dad Henry, mum Kathleen, sister Sharon and her boyfriend Barry.
Caroline told Daithi that her dad – who runs Callaghan Haulage – had been persuaded to take a week off work because he never takes a holiday.
“He’s even turned off the mobile phone,” she laughed.
She told Daithi O Sé about how she is now working as an English Teacher in Dubai and loving the experience after teaching for two years in Donegal.
Said Daithi: “Do you not realise the whole world wants to live in Donegal and you are trying to move out?”
The Fanad teacher said hundreds of members of the Dubai Irish Society were watching the show from the Donegal-owned McGettigan’s Bar.
She said the Dubai Celts often played gaelic matches against other teams in the Middle East – and travelled to matches by plane!
She also said a special hello to her two grannies – who they met at the Fleadh in Derry last week – granny Sadie Callaghan in Fanad and granny Mary McGinley in Falcarragh.
She was a band member with The Fanad Accordion Band for 11 years and leader of the band for eight years.
She has also marched in the Rose of Tralee Parade!
“I never thought I would be here,” she laughed, saying the Fanad band were back in Kerry today for another parade.
She also revealed how boyfriend Barry had blagged his way into the official Michael Jackson memorial service, got a seat in the VIP section and pretended to be a journalist with an Irish radio station.
Caroline wrote a poem for Ireland’s emigrants and she got a huge ovation at the end of it.
“If we had jobs in Erin, that’s where we would be,” she said during the poem before speaking in Irish.
“They’ll be celebrating in Donegal,” said Daithi as the crowd cheered.
Tags:
