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Louth Rose Sarah all set to fly the flag for Louth in Portlaoise
FROM France in May to Portlaoise in June and to Tralee in August.
It's not exactly most young girls' dream summer destinations but it's all Sarah Hoey is thinking about at the moment.
The Louth Rose has just returned from a holiday in France and is preparing for Portlaoise this weekend where she will contest the Rose of Tralee regional finals bidding for a place in the International Rose of Tralee Festival from Friday August 20 to Tuesday August 24.
It's a tall order for the 22-year-old as only one ever Louth Rose has made it to Kerry – Karol Ann Keenan in 2008 – but she insists she is just going to enjoy the experience this weekend and hope for the best.
"I can't wait, I'm just so excited," Sarah told The Dundalk Democrat on Monday.
"I'm just back from France where I was catching a few rays so my tan is done and everything.
"There'll be a big crew going down to support me at the weekend between my friends, family and people who work with me in Mizu.
"I'm not nervous yet, just more excited than anything. I'm just going to enjoy it as much as I can.
"I'm going to try and forget that it's a competition and I'm not too worried how I do once I enjoy it. At the same time I would love to get to Tralee and I think if I did it would be like winning the whole thing.
"All I can do is be myself," she said.
The regional finals marks the start of a hectic few days for the Mill Road girl, who also intends to run the Women's Mini Marathon in Dublin in aid of cancer on Bank Holiday Monday.
"I'll be going down to Portlaoise on Friday morning and there's a big parade on Saturday and the results then on Sunday.
"Then on Monday, I'll be stopping off in Dublin to do the women's mini marathon with a few girls I work with from Mizu."
It's been a hectic few weeks for Sarah but as she prepares for her biggest weekend since being crowned Louth Rose, she insists she wouldn't change a thing.
"It's been absolutely brilliant. I've had such great reaction and support from everyone.
"It's any girl's dream and I feel lucky to be doing it," she said.
james@dundalkdemocrat.ie
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Thursday 17 May 2012
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