So I may not have been crowned the 2017 Tipperary Rose lastnight but I think for the very first time in my 20 years of existence I can sit here and put my hand on my heart and say I am so unbelievably proud of myself, and that alone is something I never thought I would say!
I'm normally not one for self praise but it's times like this that I realise how far I have come in the last few years. Back in 2012 I was diagnosed with M.E I honestly thought my life was destroyed, I went into such a dark place and couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Fast forward a few years and my life is completely different, I am no longer letting an illness define me. Infact, I think I am doing a good job at kicking M.E's ass if I say so myself.. This didn't happen over night though, it took years of tears,tantrums,mental and physical breakdowns, highs and lows,hospital visits, hospital bills, failures,sacrifices, patience, panic attacks and perseverance and that's just to name a few!
Entering the rose of Tralee section is something that I have always wanted to do,and lastnight I finally done it not just for me, but for my family and my boyfriend who have been there from the beginning .I wanted to show them and everyone else that with all of there continued love and support over the past few years that they have shaped me to be the person I am today and that literally anything in the world is possible once you surround yourself with love and support.
I am so deeply indebted to my family for everything they have done to get me where I am today.I for one certainly know it wasn't an easy journey as I'll admit I'm a drama queen on a good day, so you can only imagine what my family have had to put up with! To my mam and dad ecspecially,I hope that when you saw me on stage lastnight oozing in confidence, strength,pride, and with that smile on my face that it was all for you and because of you. I am the luckiest girl in the world to be surrounded by the most loving, supportive, genuine people every day of my life and each of you have impacted so much in my life in your own individual ways and I hope that while reading this you all take a minute to pat yourselfs on the back and realise that no matter what I do, I do it for you, as relistically I'll never have the money to pay ye back for everything, but I hope to make up for that by creating memories that last a life time.
To the 22 other girls who shared the stage with me lastnight, if your reading this (which I hope you are as I bagged myself 22 new followers-there's always a positive) I hope that you are all bursting with pride this morning as each and every one of you were amazing in yere own individual way lastnight, you done yourselfs,your sponsors and your county proud lastnight so a massive Weldone.
To the 2017 Tipp Rose The beautiful Sheila Ryan, you are one beautiful girl both inside and out , and I have no doubt that you will make an amazing ambassador for Tipperary,I've already booked my stay in Tralee to support you throughout the festival and I am so excited to see you represent us in Tralee.I hope you have the most amazing year ever and enjoy and absorb every single minute of it.
Once again a massive massive thanks to my sponsor O Gorman Construction none of this would be possible without you, I literally don't have the words to thank you, I hope that I did the O'Gorman family and the company itself proud lastnight and I can definitely tell you that I was as proud as punch to have your company on my Sash on that stage so thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
To any girl out there who may think that they aren't beautiful enough, that they weigh too much, they're not smart enough, they're not confident enough, that they're to tall or too small, please stop right there, you are you for a reason your individuality is exactly what makes you unique. The world would be a very boring place if we were all the same. So If you can take one thing from this please realise none of that defines who you are or what you are capable of.I took to the stage lastnight with the stretch marks to prove, that you don't need to look like a Victoria secret model to follow a dream, the list of possibilities and opportunities is endless once you start to believe in yourself and I can finally say that after 20 years, I'm finally after finding inner happiness and you know what, the minute I started to love myself (not in a vain way) but by accepting who I am as a person was the exact minute that I started to achieve goals I thought were never going to happen.
Thank you so so much Everyone, this is only the beginning of what's yet to come from me, I won't stop just yet anyway!
Until Next Time.
Lots of love,
Caoimhe Xx.
