Cork's Nancy Lehane tipped to win Rose of Tralee title

The Cork Rose has emerged as the bookies’ favourite to take home the 2025 Rose Of Tralee crown.

Meelin native Nancy Lehane is being priced at 4/1 by BoyleSports to emerge as the winner of the annual Kerry pageant.

Ms Lehane, aged 22, recently completed her degree in primary education and is working as a special education teacher at Newmarket NS.

She also plays the guitar, tin whistle, concertina, and piano, musical talents that she shares with others at local events and through her teaching.

Also being predicted to do well at this year’s Rose Of Tralee festival is the UAE Rose, Celiene O’Meara, at 13/2, who made a move to the Middle East from her native county of Limerick.

The former All-Ireland fleadh champion also packed her harp for the journey to the UAE, which she used recently when performing to Emirati royalty at the Dubai World Cup.

Kerry Rose Laura Daly will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of the county’s All-Ireland-winning football team. She is priced at 7/1 to take home the crown.

Brian O’Keeffe, of BoyleSports, said that while the All-Ireland hurling heartbreak is still fresh, Cork’s Rose has fast become the punters’ favourite to bring a smile back to Rebel faces.

“it’s all to play for, though, and with everything from beekeepers to barristers ready for the stage, Tralee is buzzing about another competitive battle for the crown.”

The Rose of Tralee festival takes place from August 15 to 19, with Roses from Ireland and across the globe taking to the stage at the Kerry Sports Academy MTU on the final two nights of the festival.