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Northside stunner flies flag for Newcastle

Thursday, 07 August 2008

A STUNNING young woman from Finglas will travel to Kerry later this month for the Rose of Tralee festival – but she’ll be representing her adopted city in the UK.
Gorgeous Aoife Dowdall may be flying the flag for Newcastle in this year’s competition but she’s still a Northside girl at heart.
Aoife will join another Northside belle, Hannah McDonnell from Kilsallighan, who will represent the capital in the Kingdom County.
Outgoing Aoife moved to Newcastle last year to study for a degree in physiotherapy and jumped at the chance to fly back home for the Rose festival.
Northside People caught up with Aoife last week just before she headed off to Africa for a fortnight’s charity work.
“The last few weeks have just been chaotic,” she said excitedly.
“I signed up for the trip with the A to Z Children’s Charity way back in March.
“I never thought I would have to cut it short because I would be in the Rose of Tralee. It’s mad.”
The bubbly 22-year-old will use her skills in physiotherapy to provide care for young children in Uganda.
“I raised almost e2,000 for the trip and I’m covering the rest of the costs including my flights with a student loan,” she explained. When she returns, the Finglas local will be thrown straight into a countrywide tour with the rest of the Rose of Tralee participants.
“I really can’t wait. I know it’s going to be an amazing experience,” she said.
“I’m really proud to be one of three English roses in the festival.”
Aoife and a group of friends entered the race to become Newcastle’s rose.
“We all thought it would be the chance of a lifetime,” she recalled.
“I got selected to go to the regional final which was held in Liverpool where roses from nine regions were put forward. They were narrowed down to three roses overall.”
Aoife returned to her Finglas home at the start of the summer and she now works as a full-time waitress in the Porterhouse Bar in the city centre.
Proud parents Bernadette and Edmond as well as her five siblings will travel to Kerry for the Rose of Tralee festival.
They will be joined by some of her team members of Na Fianna camogie club.
“I’ve received an overwhelming amount of support and well-wishes from everybody,” she told Northside People.
“My family and friends are even going to get a few things ready for me while I’m away in Uganda.
“Also, I wouldn’t know what I’d do without my sponsors who are helping me out with the 20 outfits I’ll need for the festival.
“People have been really great. I hope I do them proud.”

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