Laura Droog has succeeded Nicola McEvoy as Luxembourg Rose of Tralee. The Irish language proof-reader was chosen by the jury over her fellow contestants, Julie Smith, Lisa Crotty and Caoimhe Adams.

Laura, whose mother is from Cork and father from Limerick, has been in Luxembourg for two years. Alongside her job, she is also studying for a part-time postgraduate diploma in Irish translation and editing with the National University of Ireland Maynooth.

A keen walker and reader and foodie (she is a member of an informal book club that meets to discuss literature over dinner at a restaurant serving cuisine from the country of the book’s author), Laura says she is delighted to be representing Luxembourg. She will head to Portlaoise at the end of May to compete against other international Roses for a chance to qualify for the final of the Rose of Tralee in August.

She was encouraged to sign up for the Luxembourg Rose by Jim Kent--MC for the evening at the Rose Ball-- last October, and when she heard that “being an entrant in the Rose competition is a fantastic experience” she jumped at the chance. Laura says she wasn’t nervous, but simply enjoyed being herself during the judging process and on stage at the ball.

“I told the judges afterwards that I felt humbled to have been chosen,” Laura said the following day as she continued the celebrations with family and friends.

To crown Laura's evening, her escort Frank Friemel was also chosen as the Escort of the Year by public acclaim.

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