Armagh and Down Roses up for the Final

Both the Down and Armagh candidates for the Rose of Tralee 2017 have been selected for the final of the competition, the first part which takes place tonight in Tralee. Armagh Rose Nicole McKeown starts the ball rolling tonight while Down Rose Orlagh McNally has to wait another 24 hours to step out on the stage at the Dome in Tralee tomorrow night.

Hailing from Saval, Down Rose Orlagh is 23 years old and is the eldest of four children. Her mum is a Nurse and dad is a farmer, running his own on-farm butchery and farm shop.

As Orlagh comments "I grew up on the farm but swapped my wellies for Irish dancing shoes at a young age to win two All-Ireland Gold medals for Irish team dancing.

"I have just completed a five year degree in Medicine at Queens University Belfast and look forward to graduating as a doctor and starting work in July 2017. My long term career goal is to work in Intensive Care and I have secured a job for the next two years rotating through different hospitals across Northern Ireland, before I decide whether to enter a training programme or take my medical skills and travel the world for a year or two."

25 year old Nicole comes from Armagh city and is passionately involved in theatre and when not on stage works as Duty Manager at the Grand Opera House in Belfast.

 Talking about her aims Nicole said "I have recently received my BSc Honours Degree in Leisure and Events Management from University of Ulster. I hope to eventually pursue a career in the Events Industry - it is my aim to create exciting and immersive events and through live music, theatre and other creative industries, and attract even more tourists to our wonderful country!

"I have been very passionately involved in theatre my entire life and have been lucky enough to perform in venues all over Northern Ireland including: The Grand Opera House, the Waterfront Hall, Armagh Market Place and the SSE Arena. I have played a variety of roles such as Belle (Beauty and the beast), Katie Brown (Calamity Jane), Elizabeth Bennett (Pride and Prejudice) and Eponine (Les Miserables)."

Both of the girls have chose charities close to their hearts to campaign for during their year Orlagh the Cancer Fund for Children and Nicole the Children’s Cancer Unit at the Royal Belfast Hospital.

The competition is live tonight and tomorrow night on RTE1 at 8pm.