Live95 Limerick Today Podcasts

2023 Limerick Rose - a year on

2023 Limerick Rose, Molli Ann O'Halloran, joins Joe to discuss why there will be no Limerick Rose in this year's festival and how she has used her platform in the year since the Rose of Tralee.

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Duration:: 9m
Broadcast on:: 15 Aug 2024
Audio Format:: mp3

[MUSIC PLAYING] Your views, your news, your limerick today, with Joe Netch on Live 95. [MUSIC PLAYING] The 2024 Rose of Trilly International Festival begins tomorrow with the televised rose selection broadcast live on Monday and Tuesday of next week. And you'll remember that last year we had Molly Ann O'Halloran representing Limerick. And she's with me now in the studio to reflect on her year as the limerick rose. Hello. Hi, how are you? How are you doing? Good. Did you have a good time? I did. It was great. It was a good time. Tell me a little bit about what you did during your 12 months as limerick rose. Obviously, people would be very well aware of your time and on stage and on telly. And we're the senior there, but were you busy? Yeah, I was busy. I really wanted to focus my time into Limerick and some limerick charities and stuff like that. So I did a fundraiser just in Northside. There's a charity there that deals with families that might be going through some sort of addiction and stuff like that. So we did a fundraiser there where I sang that night, which was really nice. And then I did a charity. Why else was this like, you know, the dog charity? Yes. Did that as well. And I just liked bits and pieces around Limerick. I sang at Christmas time for Novus, which was great. I did that the last two years previous to the Limerick rose. And yeah, I just really wanted to focus around Limerick City, because of course, that's where I'm from. And remind our listeners what you were strongly advocating for as Limerick rose and what you really wanted to highlight. So I have autism, but specifically Asperger's syndrome. And I really wanted to highlight that. And just kind of share my experience and how I dealt with it and how I'm dealing with, you know, and how I will be dealing with it throughout my life. And did the rose give you the opportunity to do that, do you feel? Definitely. I remember waking up one day. We were in Chile in the middle and so talented. And I seen a piece of paper under my door. And I actually got, I would say, fan mail. But yeah, from little girls around Chile that had written that they were so inspired by my story. And I got a couple of good few messages from parents as well that were happy that they could say that they had a lot more hope that maybe they could have a child with autism that maybe might struggle being, you know, talking stuff like that or there might be a little bit mute or there might be a little bit quiet. And that was on me when I was younger. And they had just texted me and said, "Thank you so much for giving us that little bit of hope." So yeah, I was delighted to do that. People will remember you on stage in Chile. What's it like and what's it like in those couple of minutes while you're waiting to go on in the TV audience and all of it? I think when I was on stage, I do remember it. I definitely do remember, but I think the moments before are very vivid in my memory. I remember going up in my shoes. They were from pennies. I love pennies, but they were so sore. And they were almost like flip-flaps. They were really, really, really uncomfortable. I don't know why I chose them, but sure look. And then I remember coming up just backstage and they'll call you. And I was right after the break, I think. And there was three women that I think they were working for RTE in makeup. And they just kind of make sure you're not shiny around the T's on the girls and all. And I don't know if the cameras and stuff like that. I was like, "Lads, I don't think I can go on." And they were like, "What?" And I was like, "No, no, no, no. "I really don't think I can go on." They were like, "Well, your name is coming up now." So you kind of have to go, like, so I was like, "Okay, okay." And they were like, "Look, we've seen every rose. "There are like that. "You'll be grand." And look, I did it anyways. And the first thing that I did when I walked off the stage and I just kicked off the shoes and walked barefoot back to the green room. - Yeah. Are you in touch with the other roses from last year? - Yeah, we're actually going back to Chile. There's a good few going back on the Friday. And then I'll be going on the Saturday. - Great, we're looking forward to that. - Yeah. - It does seem that talking to roses over the years from Limerick that they've maintained connections all over the world from their year. - Yeah, it's just like, it's amazing. Like, we've watched Australia. We have a couple of girls that have moved to Australia. But as we have, we have Germany. We have Melbourne. We have Western Australia. So, yeah, like, I'm sure if there was ever a couch that I need to stay on, I could definitely count on them, you know? - No, they've changed the format quite a few times. I know myself over the years with this. So, do we have a Limerick Rose this year? - No, not this year. We will have one next year though. - That's how they're doing it. They're kind of rotating it a bit more because they have so many. - I think that's the vibe, like, they've so many. And as well, I think, like, for example, Tipperary or Kildare, just for example, weren't in there last year. So, Limerick and Clare aren't in there this year. So, I think it's just kind of good to give every county a chance. - Right. And what's next for you, Molly? And what will you be doing in life? - So, I'm currently gigging, actually, and singing and stuff like that. So, I'm in UL, doing voice. I'm going into my third year. I'm actually on placement at the minute. But I'm more trying to get into, like, gigging, especially with weddings and stuff like that. - So, are you at the Irish World Academy? - I am, yeah. - Oh, I've been enjoying that. - Yeah, I love it. - Great place for people who are interested in music. - Yeah, yeah. - Brilliant. Well, listen, will you give us a verse maybe of something? What would you sing for us in life? Would you mind? - Yeah, I can do the one that I did on stage even. - Yeah, and what was? - The little mermaid's pager work. - People will remember that. All right, well, we'd great. It's fantastic that you do it live for us to be fair to you at a quarter to 10. - I'm not more up now, so I'll sing in teachers. Listen, please just don't turn it off now. - Off you go. ♪ I wanna be where the people are ♪ ♪ I wanna see ♪ ♪ Wanna see 'em dancing ♪ ♪ Walking around on those ♪ ♪ What do you call 'em again, girls? ♪ ♪ Oh, heels ♪ ♪ Kicking your fins, it don't get too far ♪ ♪ Legs are required for jumping dancing ♪ ♪ Strolling along on those ♪ ♪ What's the word again? ♪ ♪ Oh, street ♪ ♪ Up where they walk ♪ ♪ Up where they run ♪ ♪ Up where they stay all day in the sun ♪ ♪ Wandering free ♪ ♪ Wish I could be ♪ ♪ Heart of your world ♪ - Lovely, that was absolutely fantastic. So, Malian, would you recommend to young people out there that they get involved in the Limerick Rose and the Rose of Trilly? Because as you know, there are some people who embrace it and some people who are a bit put off maybe because they might be nervous, as you were saying earlier, or maybe they just think, "Oh, it's just not for me." - Yeah, actually, funny enough you say that I had a text the other day, just to give me a nice conference, like just to say, I'm really happy that you raised the awareness flag for, and was an advocate for autism. And then, as a text me back and said, how was the lovely girls competition? So, I do understand that from an outsider's look, it does look like we're all smiling and stuff like that. But really, that's for the photos and stuff, but from someone that's been in it and that has lived through it all, and that's been backstage and has seen the photographers face, and they're like, "Smile, yes, your jaws are very sore "from smiling 100%. "I still have scars on my feet from all the heels, "but I would 100% recommend it." And I remember going for the Limerick Rose and being a Rose, I didn't really follow the Rose actually when I was small, but the only answer to that, the only reason why I went for the Limerick Rose was to make more friends and to kind of get my communication skills up there. I feel like I have a tendency sometimes to really come back into myself, and I do 100% know that that's kind of my aspergers, and because mainly my aspergers is my social aspects, my social awareness and stuff like that. So, for people with autism, I would definitely try, push yourself a little bit more, but 100% I know myself. It's way easier said than done, but regards to the Rosachlie absolutely anyone, whether you really don't think you're able to do it, I would push yourself, and not even just for the Rosachlie, but everyday things, like sometimes I found it really hard to like get dressed, you know, go out and even ask for a coffee. I just found that really difficult, but you have regards to the Rosachlie, they're so accepting, and they were really, really accommodating to me. And to be honest, whether it was really just my luck that I got the Limerick Rose, but leading up to the Limerick Rose, you actually get a good few meetings with the girls and stuff like that, and you don't have a drink with them, or you get to do the Limerick tour. So, regardless of actually getting the Limerick Rose, the lead octet would really boost your confidence. - All right, well listen, congratulations on being a fantastic representative of Limerick through the Limerick Rose over the last year, and the very best of luck in everything you do in the future, we'll pop up some video of this and our socials a bit later, and the podcast of this chat as well, Limerick Rose, Marlianne, or Halloran, I appreciate your time, thank you. - Thank you. - Your views, your news, your Limerick today, with Jonette, online 95. (upbeat music) You