KILDARE: Rose Escort of the Year 2023 talks winning the coveted title and his admiration for the Arizona Rose Ashley Jackson

Victory for County Kildare: a Rathangan man has been selected as the Rose Escort of the Year 2023.

Tommy Cunningham, a 26-year-old teacher, accompanied the Arizona Rose, Ashley Jackson, at this year's Rose of Tralee ceremony.

Commenting on his background, Tommy said: "I have a master’s degree in Educational research and hope to someday complete a PhD in psychology.

"I have four younger sisters who have grown up watching the Rose of Tralee, but they said this year was a particularly exciting year for them."

When asked about how he came to be a Rose Escort, he replied:"The application and selection process felt thorough and in-depth, but it is not without reason.

"Initially, there is an online application with around 40 questions... I remember starting it thinking I would fly through it, but alas, I was up until all hours trying to exaggerate my abilities of playing the violin and finished the application at 1am.

Rose Escort winner Tommy Cunningham with the Arizona Rose Ashley Jackson and Faye O'Sullivan. Pic: Tommy Cunningham via Instagram.

Tommy continued: "After the application there was an interview in Wexford in the Ashdown Park Hotel: we were individually interviewed by a panel of three before the group interview.

"It was three or four days after that when we all got the call to say we had been shortlisted as a Rose Escort before we headed off to Bootcamp in Kenmare."

Tommy also revealed that he has had great chemistry with Ashley Jackon: "I was paired with the Arizona Rose, Ashley Jackson. We hit it off immediately and had so much in common.

"Again, it is a reflection of how the Rose Chaperone team know what they’re doing when they can pair two complete strangers together, who both, I suppose as Ashley and I agreed, complement each other so well."

He had nothing but praise for his companion at the ceremony: "Ashley is a highly intelligent and strong woman.

"She is 25 years old and holds a position as a digital communications officers for a University. She is completing two different masters degree and hopes to graduate from both in December.

"I mean, what a privilege to be in the company of such an ambitious woman for a full week!"

When he was asked about how he felt upon learning he had won the prestigious title, Tommy said: "This is certainly a reoccurring question, and it is the hardest one to answer.

"It’s a mix of feelings, standing on stage as you hear your family, friends and partner shout your name up... all you want to do is run down and see them after being away from them for what feels like weeks."

He continued: "You’re looking around at your fellow escorts, with lads you’ve spent the whole summer getting to know, and knowing that they, as well as the Roses, chose you to present the Escort group for 2023.

"It is an overwhelming feeling of gratitude, honor and determination; determination to ensure that all the new, additional Rose Escort roles are fulfilled this year, and to support the newly selected Rose of Tralee, Róisín Wiley ensuring that she can, as far as possible, have the most enjoyable and stress free experience as she represents Tralee over the course of the next 12 months."