Tubberclair's Aisling is heading to The Dome!

Tubberclair's Aisling Baker will be heading to The Dome in Tralee this August after being selected as an International Rose at the regional finals in Portlaoise at the weekend. The 21-year-old trainee teacher has always wanted to take part in the Rose of Tralee Festival and impressed judges at the regional final last weekend. Speaking after it was announced that she was selected to go to Tralee, Aisling said: "I'm in utter shock. I didn't expect it at all. I thought there was another American Rose to be called so when they said Westmeath I thought that must be wrong." She added: "I'm over the moon. I don't think it's sunk in yet. I still have to got and meet Mammy and when she starts crying I think it will finally hit home that that's where I'm going. It's brilliant. I'm really happy. I can't believe it, I'm over the moon." Yesterday (Tuesday), Aisling told the Westmeath Independent she hadn't really had too much time to think about it but she is delighted to have been selected. She said she is back at work, which is keeping her busy for now. Aisling works in Grogan's of Glasson and also at the Let's Go summer camps. While the Rose of Tralee International Festival doesn't take place until August, Aisling has a busy summer preparing for the event and will need to get her wardrobe ready for the festival, with lots of frocks needed over the course of the festival. She will also be opening the Athlone Agri Show and judging the Athlone Waltzing Competition in the coming weeks. And in the midst of all that she will be expecting her results, having recently completed her final exams in her primary teaching course in Mary Immaculate College in Limerick. Aisling said the experience in Portlaoise was fantastic and described it as a mini-Tralee. She sang as her party piece at the weekend and plans to sing again in The Dome, although she hasn't decided yet what song to sing. Local organiser Paula Gannon said: "We are very proud of Aisling and are so happy for her and her family. Aisling is undoubtedly the epitome of a Rose; she is charismatic, genuine, beautifully humble and totally engaging. Westmeath are very lucky to have such a wonderful representative of our county going to the international stage with Daithi " Sé. "Aisling was breathtaking on stage Friday night and had the audience in the palm of her hand with her charm, wit and beautiful singing voice," added Paula. Aisling is no stranger to the stage, having performed in the school musical in Our Lady's Bower and also being a member of the musical society in Mary I. Aisling was one of 32 Roses who were selected at the weekend to take part in the International Rose of Tralee Festival in August and will be heading to Tralee on August 16. Aisling is the daughter of Michelle and Noel Baker and is the eldest of four children, with siblings Seán, Aoife and Eimear. Yesterday she thanked her sponsor Coppers Bar in Athlone, which is owned by her cousin Eddie Brady, and Grogan's, where she works, for their support.