Mary and Geoff with San Francisco Rose Brooklyn Quinn, who's originally from Waterford

Brooklyn moved to the states along with her parents and brother six years ago, when she was just 13. She and her family live on a ranch outside San Francisco, and Brooklyn has now finished high school and is studying Psychology, Criminal Justice and Social and Behavioural Sciences at University. She decided to compete in the San Francisco heats for the 2019 Rose of Tralee festival and was delighted to be selected on the night.

This year's festival

Brooklyn told Geoff and me that she's really excited to embark on a week of events and festivities from August 19th, when the Rose of Tralee kicks off. We'll see Brooklyn on our TV screens for the annual airing of the competition on either Monday August 26th or Tuesday August 27th, when the girls take to the stage to be interviewed by Daithí O'Shea. The current Rose of Tralee is Waterford's Kirsten Mate Maher, so you'd never know, she could be handing her crown over to another native of the Deise!  For more about the Rose of Tralee you can click here.

And below is our chat with Brooklyn Quinn on The Big Breakfast Blaa...