The 2016 Cork Rose, Denise Collins, pictured with Aoife Murphy who won the title last year.
Denise Collins from Knocknaloman, near Rathmore, and a teacher at Davis College, is the 2016 Cork Rose. She was announced winner last Saturday night at the 2016 Cork Rose Selection in the Clayton Hotel, Silver Springs. Denise was sponsored by Kenya Education Project and lit up the room with her unique onstage interview and party piece where she performed a science experiment by setting her hands on fire.
Although Denise is from the Cork/Kerry border, she most definitely considers herself to be from Cork. She teaches science and maths in Davis College, Mallow, and has a degree in biology, physics, agricultural science and mathematics from the University of Limerick. She has a keen interest in anything agricultural and is captain of her local football team, Knocknagree, and loves sport. She also loves travelling and has been to America, South-East Asia and various European cities. This month Denise is travelling to Nairobi, Kenya where she will volunteer in Brother Beausang School for three weeks, teaching underprivileged children and experiencing the local culture.
In a further link with Davis College, the 2015 Cork Rose, Aoife Murphy, is a past pupil of Davis College, and she was in attendance on the night to hand the crown over to Denise.
Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Joe Kavanagh and his wife Stephanie, Deputy Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Claire Cullinane, Deborah Barrett 2005 Cork Rose and 1991 Rose of Tralee Denise Murphy O’Sullivan with other Cork Roses from previous years attended the event.
Cork Rose judges, 2001 Cork Rose – Olivia Walsh Murphy, Sabrina Hill – Kopper Hair Salon and Con O’Connor, past president of the Rose of Tralee International Festival, assessed each entrant through individual and group interviews, as well as their stage interviews over both selection nights.
MC Ollie Turner won over the crowd with his signature style of serious interviewing and hilarious anecdotes as he watched the Roses sing, dance, play the concertina, flute, guitar, ukulele, accordion and piano, make ice cream and carry out a science experiment. A raffle was held on Friday and Saturday night with all proceeds going to Cork City Hospitals Children’s Club and Breaking the Silence respectively.