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Birmingham’s
Rose, Aimee-Louise Porch |
Aimee-Louise
Porch, Birming-ham’s current Rose has return-ed from the
International Rose of Tralee festival in jubilant mood.
Aimee, although not the overall winner, has had eleven brilliant
days in Ireland.
The New York Rose, Lisa Murtagh, 27, was crowned this years International
Rose.
Police Constable Porch, 22, was full of enthusiasm for the festival. “It
was just absolutely fantastic, the whole thing. And I know I sound
really cheesy saying ‘Everybody got on, it was the experience
of a lifetime’, but that’s the way I feel about it. It
was amazing. I can’t believe it’s all over. It was just
out of his world. I really, thoroughly enjoyed it,” she said.
The Roses embarked on a hectic schedule of events around Ireland
starting in Dublin and finishing in Tralee with the selection nights.
“While we were in Athlone I met my great-great-uncle and his
wife. That was the first time I’d ever met him.”
How did she feel making her television debut to hundreds of thousands
of viewers?
“I was on (TV) the Monday night and I remember being backstage.
I was just raring to go. I was having that much of a good time that
nerves didn’t even come into it.”
“I’ll be grateful forever having had the opportunity
to go to Tralee. The memories I’ll have forever and the photographs
I’ll cherish.”
Once elected Rose of Tralee, Aimee holds the title for the year.
What duties will she partake in over the next 12 months?
“I’ll have a role to play in the St. Patrick's day parade
in Birmingham. I’ll be going to as many functions as possible.
I want to spend the next year promoting the Rose of Tralee as much
as I can and make people aware of what it is.”
“In the Birmingham heat a company called Bevan Blinds sponsored
me. They’re opening up a couple of new stores in Acocks Green,
Birmingham and they’ve asked me to open up the stores and cut
the ribbon.”
Maria Cleary, one half of the Birmingham Rose of Tralee committee
was very pleased with proceedings. She told me: “As the Birmingham
Rose Centre we were very impressed with the itinerary this year and
the festival was spectacular. All the UK Roses excelled themselves
and made sure the place of the UK Roses was securely on the map.
All the UK Roses, as well as the Birmingham Rose, were fine ambassadors
and flew the flag for the Irish community in England.”
She continued: “We were also acting as documentary consultants
to BFM, a production company based in Digbeth, Birmingham’s
Irish Quarter, for a film charting the progress of a midlands Rose.
They plan to make a pilot and for it to air in 2009 on the 50th anniversary
of the Rose of Tralee festival. Aimee will be featured.”
Aimee hasn’t let the title go to her head though.
“I’ve got my own flat now and I come back and visit my
parents now and again. Mam said ‘Stick the kettle on Aimee’,
and I said ‘I don’t make tea Mam, I’m a Rose’.
That’s wearing a bit thin now I think! One thing they told
us in Tralee was ‘Once a Rose, always a Rose.’ So Mam,
whether you like it or not, I’m not making the tea, cause I’m
a Rose forever!”
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