A Rose Of Tralee hopeful has swapped her farming overalls for high heels.
Orla McDaid said she is “flying the flag” for female farmers having inherited her uncle’s land.
The 24-year-old, from Galway, told the Irish Mirror: “I’ve got a science and veterinary degree so now I’m doing my masters in NUIG to be a biology and agricultural teacher.
“My uncle passed away when he was 56 from bowel cancer and it was very tough on the family.
“He was unmarried without any children so I was like a daughter to him.
“I was out farming with him as a kid, I was very lucky that he looked after me in his will and I inherited his farm.
“Most of the farmers on my courses are men over 40 and they’re looking at me asking me who are you here on behalf of and I say, ‘Myself’.” The stunning Rose also revealed in a male-dominated industry she hasn’t experienced sexism.
She said: “When I go to the courses I have older men coming up to me
saying it is so good to see a young person interested in farming.
“A lot of young people coming from a farming background aren’t expressing interest in taking over the farm and it’s so important our agricultural industry continues for exporting.
“I’m flying the flag for female farmers. I’d like to show young women there’s nothing to be ashamed of – you can wear high heels and you can wear wellies, it doesn’t matter.”
Meanwhile, Antrim Rose Orlagh McClinton told how she’s working with young Protestants and Catholics in the North to build a better future.
She told the Irish Mirror: “I’m part of a charity called The Ulster Project.
“It was established years ago during the times of the Troubles to bring Catholics and Protestants together from Belfast over to America to show them how they can live in harmony.”
Orlagh, who trained to be a religion teacher, went to Ohio as a teen and now she’s giving back to her community breaking down old age stigmas.
She added: “It’s going to build the building blocks for the future and it will allow us to get on with things and maybe the Troubles will be left in the past.
“In my head there shouldn’t be a difference, a person is a person regardless of their faith or their background.”
- The Rose Of Tralee festival runs from August 23 to 27 and the 32 contestants will take to the stage on RTE One on August 26 and August 27.
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