Meet our Hutt Valley Rose

Each year we select a Hutt Valley Rose of Tralee to represent us at the National Final.

Tiarna Rose Sands, Hutt Valley Rose of Tralee, 2023The 2023 Hutt Valley Irish Society Rose of Tralee is TIARNA ROSE SANDS.

Tiarna grew up in Blarney, Co. Cork and went to both primary and secondary school there. After completing her Leaving Cert, she decided to do a Nursing studies qualification (Fetac Level 5) which was a year long course in Cork College of Commerce. She then went on to UCD to complete a Bachelor degree in Physiotherapy.

She currently work in a special needs school in Wellington as a Physiotherapist. She runs sports classes, is involved in the medical care of some of the students, and also runs a number of clinics within the school. "I absolutely love my job. It's amazing that I can keep continuing to develop meaningful connections with the students every day." Prior to coming to New Zealand, Tiarna "was also working as a Paediatric Physiotherapist in Ireland and had specialised within the area of children with disabilities."

Tiarna has always been into running and has "joined a local running club in Wellington which is great fun and I've made lots of friends through that." However, she says that "swimming is my new main sport especially sea swimming. There's no feeling like the cold ocean water to make you feel alive! I couldn't even do 3/4 strokes prior to Covid but picked up the sport during the lockdown and haven't looked back since."

She says that her family "is very musical, and I've been playing fiddle for over 20 years. It's been rooted into us from a young age and I couldn't imagine not playing it now." She confesses that she's "been involved with music groups in college and have also taught fiddle in schools and have played in numerous performances." But, she stresses, that she also "really enjoys reading a good book (with a cup of tea!) and socializing with my friends and family."

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You can meet other, recent Hutt Valley Roses.

The Rose of Tralee in New Zealand is at http://www.roseoftralee.co.nz

The Rose of Tralee in Ireland is at http://www.roseoftralee.ie