Westmeath Rose Caoilfhinn N\u00ed Choiligh, 25, turned her own experience of alopecia into advocacy. Now training as a wig maker and co-founder of The Hair Loss Haven, she is helping others facing hair loss feel supported and seen. #roseoftralee<\/a> #rte<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/BTjLeKmY0L<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Rose of Tralee (@RoseofTralee_) August 17, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Westmeath Rose Caoilfhinn N\u00ed Choiligh shared her story of alopecia, losing her hair at the age of 16.<\/p>\n As part of her appearance on stage, N\u00ed Choiligh brought on her wigs and tried them on for the audience, receiving a standing ovation.<\/p>\n The 26-year-old founded The Hair Loss Haven, a group offering support for those with alopecia, including cancer survivors.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you lose your hair, there\u2019s a bit of grief,\u201d she told host Kathryn Thomas.\u00a0<\/p>\n She shared that she likes to \u201cswap it up\u201d and showed some of her favourite colours and styles.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that\u2019s the good thing about wigs\u2026people get really self-conscious about trying to make them look perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n Thomas praised the move, saying \u201cFor you to stand here and do that is not something that you would have been able to do even six months ago.\u201d<\/p>\n N\u00ed Choiligh maintained that she wanted to encourage others to \u2018\u2019embrace the imperfections\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n Lilting in Leitrim<\/p>\n Physiotherapist Catherine Cullen from Leitrim decided to do a bit of lilting.<\/p>\n (If you have never heard of it, lilting is a form of vocal mouth music where a person uses nonsense syllables (like \u201cdiddly,\u201d \u201cdum,\u201d or \u201cdee\u201d) to mimic the sound of instruments.<\/p>\n What a talent! Leitrim Rose Catherine Cullen, 21, is a UCD Physiotherapy student, musician, sean-n\u00f3s dancer and All-Ireland Senior Lilting champion. Tonight, she brought the magic of portaireacht to the Dome. #roseoftralee<\/a> #rte<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/QfX3zjmLwt<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Rose of Tralee (@RoseofTralee_) August 17, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n A musical aficionado (with the uileann pipes among her other talents), Cullen mixed the lilt with some thin whistle playing.<\/p>\n Despite Thomas joking that the pastime was for older men with no teeth, Cullen was described as an all-Ireland champion lilter.\u00a0<\/p>\n Somali meets Irish dance<\/p>\n Thomas noted that Dublin Rose Suad Mooge was \u201cthe most well-known rose on this tour, maybe not necessarily for the right reasons\u201d.<\/p>\n 25-year-old medical student Mooge was subjected to racist comments online after being selected to represent the capital in the competition this year.<\/p>\n Responding on stage, Mooge said that though she expedited it and \u2018\u2019had experienced racism before\u2019\u2019 she was disappointed by the reaction.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t really choose to give power or internalise negative words. You know, I\u2019m very selective of what I choose to internalise, and for me, that\u2019s fine,\u201d Mooge said.<\/p>\n We love our Suad! Dublin Rose Suad Mooge, 26, is a medical scientist, marathon runner, community leader and entrepreneur. Tonight, she brought both sides of her heritage to the Dome with an incredible fusion of Irish and Somali dancing. #roseoftralee<\/a> #rte<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/bU0JGgtSJl<\/a><\/p>\n\n
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