Down Rose 2014 is selected

As the clock stuck midnight on Sunday 27th April, the new Down Rose 2014 was announced in front of 300 people in the fairytale setting of The Slieve Donard Resort and Spa, Newcastle.

After an entertaining and enjoyable evening with 18 wonderful roses taking to the stage wishing to become the ambassador for County Down, the judging panel selected Shannon Parr from Rostevor as the 2014 Down Rose. Shannon is currently the assistant manager of The Fun House Newry, while studying her Post-Graduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in Belfast. Shannon is very much involved in her local community and St Bronagh's GAA, and hopes too finish her Post Graduate Diploma to become a qualified Cognitive Therapist and to create a CBT workshop on mental health awareness for young people.

In what was a glamorous evening, there was a fundraising raffle for 'Friends of A' The Down Rose Centre's chosen charity for the year. The charity raised over £700 towards their great work. A representative from Tralee who attended the selection commented on the professional nature of the event and that it showcased much of what County Down had to offer.

Down Rose coordinator Gemma Murphy added, “The support for the girls was tremendous on the evening and we would like to thank all the sponsors of the event, especially our main sponsor, The Slieve Donard Resort and Spa, whose luxury surroundings added even more class to the event.”

Shannon will now go forward to represent the seventeen other girls and her County in the Rose of Tralee International Festival Regional Finals in Portlaoise fromThursday 29th May – Sunday 1st June to bid for her place at the Rose of Tralee International Festival Finals in Tralee in August.

Check out the down rose Facebook page and twitter to keep up to date with the work that Shannon will be doing throughout the year to promote County Down on an international stage.