INTERVIEW: Fiona Kennedy reflects on Tipperary rose 2026 success

Clonmel woman Fiona Kennedy was crowned Tipperary Rose 2026 following a selection night held on Sunday, May 31, when 23 entrants from towns and villages across the county competed for the title.

​The successful contestant will now go forward to represent Tipperary at the International Rose of Tralee Festival, which will take place from Friday, August 14 to Tuesday, August 18. It was 2008 the last time the Premier county had a winner in Aoife Kelly; will we do it again?

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Ms Kennedy, a Home Economics and Religion teacher teaching in Fethard at Patrician Presentation Secondary School, was sponsored on the night by Arthritis Ireland, Ms Kennedy spoke openly about her lifelong connection with the condition after being diagnosed with arthritis as a child.

Speaking to the Tipperary Star recently she said: “It was out of this world and an incredible experience. The atmosphere was so special in the room itself, everyone’s family and friends present supporting each other. The 22 other rose contestants are just so inspiring and there was a genuine sense of friendship and support between the group of girls.”

On the night of her win, she said she was taken by surprise.

“I was completely shocked on the night, I was number 16 on the night so just before the intermission break. once that was done I got to relax and really enjoy the show. I never in a million years could have predicted that I would win it.”

Ms Kennedy also spoke about her long-standing connection with the Rose of Tralee Festival and her childhood memories of attending it with her family.

“We have a mobile home in Castlegregory, just outside Tralee so we spend a lot of our summers down there and since I was a young child we have been going in and out to that festival. I used to go around getting the Rose’s little signatures of me and my three sisters and we would go to the parade every single year, come rain or sunshine”.

"Poor dad was dragged into that parade and we would watch the floats. They were like princesses to us and now to actually be in the parade is really like a dream come true.”

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She said Arthritis Ireland, had been in contact following her win and were very supportive.

“Arthritis Ireland are absolutely delighted. I was talking to Gráinne O'Leary, the Chief Executive Officer for Arthritis Ireland. They just wished me the absolute best of luck and they were delighted with the news.”

Speaking about living with the condition, she said: “I could sit at home all day with ice packs on my knees crying over the pain I am in but that is not the person I am. I’m a young woman and I am not going to just sit back and let my arthritis take over my life. I know there are so many people out there who are worse off than me.”

Outside teaching, Ms Kennedy runs her own business, Kennedy Kakes, which she established in 2019 making custom baked goods for family, friends and community events. Her baking passion is in the blood.

“Definitely my grandparents… I loved baking growing up, always helping mam in the kitchen. My mother taught me everything that I know, she had the patience of a saint teaching me and my three sisters in the kitchen at home!”

Fiona credits her composure on stage to her teaching experience.

“I suppose I am used to speaking in front of groups from being a teacher. You speak in front of 30 odd kids numerous times a day. So that definitely stood to me on the night. I just spoke from the heart and told my story as it is.”

In her school, her win was warmly celebrated, with staff marking the occasion by planting a rose bush in her honour. Best of luck to Fiona in Tralee, and fingers crossed!

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