AS part of her first return visit to Ireland since being crowned the 2016 Rose of Tralee Maggie McEldowney met with the Mayor of Kildare at Áras Chill Dara.

Her visit included a packed programme of engagements including a live TV appearance in a Lip Sync Battle in which she went head-to-head with DJ Eoghan McDermott on The Ray D’Arcy Show on RTÉ to promote the Marie Keating Foundation’s latest fundraising initiative.

2016 Rose of Tralee Maggie McEldowney admiring Ivan Keatley’s Kildare Mayoral Chain at Aras Cill Dara when she visited last Friday evening. Photo: Pat Tinsley

Arriving from Chicago on Thursday morning, Maggie announced her plans for the coming year.

“I aim to visit every county in Ireland, become the first Rose to visit every Rose Centre throughout North America (18) and in the summer, I’m hoping to head Down Under to Australia and New Zealand,” she said.

“My superiors at work have been great in being flexible with my work schedule to allow me travel and carry out my Rose duties.”

As part of her return visit she met the Mayor of Kildare, Cllr Ivan Keatley and the Acting Chief Executive of Kildare County Council, Joe Boland at Áras Chill Dara in Naas. She was presented also with her stunning jewellery, giftware and homeware prizes from the festival’s lead sponsor, Tipperary Crystal, at  The Cliff at Lyons in Kildare.

Anyone who would like to enter the Rose of Tralee or become a Rose Escort can do so by completing the online application form at www.roseoftralee.ie