My Year As Birmingham Rose
Angela Crowley reflects on her last twelve months as Birmingham Rose

Angela Crowley with Birmingham Lord Mayor, Mike Nangle

My year as a Rose is drawing to an end, and it will soon be time for me to hand my sash over to another lucky young lady, who at present, will be quite blissfully unaware of the eventful year ahead of her. It’s been a hectic but very enjoyable year for me and only now, as I reflect on the past 12 months do I realise quite how busy it’s been!
The focal point of my year was without a doubt the trip to the Rose festival in Tralee last August. It was an amazing experience and one that I will truly never forget. I don’t think anything could have prepared any of the Roses for the warm welcome we received all over Ireland, especially when we finally reached Tralee. We were indeed superstars for the week! I returned home from Tralee exhausted, with little voice left, and well practised at signing my autograph!
Since the festival I’ve been busy fulfilling my Rose duties at home, attending functions and events all over Birmingham as an ambassador for young women of Irish decent. I’ve been invited to various annual dinner dances, balls and awards evenings, two of which were first time events this year – the Harp Ball, which took place at the Paragon Hotel in Birmingham and the GAA for Schools awards evening, (sponsored by the Irish Post), which doubled as a celebration of 5 successful years promoting Gaelic football in local schools.
The last few weeks have been an especially busy time for me, with both the build up to St Patrick’s Day and my own preparations for the World Irish Dancing Championships to cont-end with. I attended the St Patrick’s Day civic reception at the council house where I was asked to make a presentation to the Mayor, Counsellor Mike Nangle, and I was extremely privileged to be asked to carry the St Patrick’s flag at the front of the St Patrick’s Day parade through Birm-ingham the following Sunday. On St Patrick’s Day, I attended a break-fast hosted by the Irish Post, which was a very successful and somewhat star-studded event!
I’ve made many new friends during my year as a Rose, not least the Roses and Escorts who I spent the week with in Tralee. I got on particularly well with the Texas Rose Caitlin Lowry, and I am very lucky to have been invited over to Texas in May for Caitlin’s handover to her successor!
On a personal level, my confidence has grown enormously over the last year. This time last year I was more than happy to let my dancing feet do the talking and would always shy away from any form of public speaking. Now I’m far more comfortable talking in public and I’m proud to say that millions of people were watching in Tralee as the selection was broadcast live on RTE.
So as I prepare to step down as Birmingham Rose, I am truly grateful for the last 12 months,
for the opportunities I’ve had
and for the friends I’ve made.
I’ve had tremendous support from the Birmingham Irish, not
least from Birmingham Rose Organisers Maria Cleary and
Teresa Melody, and I have no
doubt that this will continue for
our 2005 Rose.