Rose of Tralee competition beckons for Knockcroghery's San Francisco Rose

Roscommon natives will certainly have something to cheer for later this summer after a Knockcroghery native was crowned San Francisco Rose 2010 earlier this month. 24-year-old Roisín Hunt from Curry, Ballymurray, Knockcroghery will fly the flag for the US west coast city at the Rose of Tralee International Festival come August, after she emerged victorious at the selection convention in the Irish Centre in mid-May. Proud father Seamus, who is well known in GAA circles for his work as a physio with local team St Dominics and Roscommon county teams, told the Westmeath Independent this week that the family are really looking forward to the festival in August. "We're going to have a bit of a hooley alright," he joked, adding that a large group of cousins and relatives are already planning to descend en-masse on Tralee for the famous week-long festival. "We'll be out of pocket but we'll enjoy it, it's a unique week. Roisín is thrilled and she is probably going to come home early to prepare for it all," Seamus and his wife Dawn enthused. A graduate of Media Studies and French from NUI Maynooth, Roisín has been living in San Francisco for over a year now, working in KALW radio station in the city. Heavily involved in the Irish scene over there, the Roscommon native plays ladies football for a local team and was persuaded by friends in the Irish community to enter the Rose competition. Since the good news first emerged Seamus said local people have been stopping him and calling to send their best wishes and congratulations to Roisín. "It's gathering steam alright, come August we'll be hyper," the jovial dad concluded.