Resolution 140701

..Title Honoring Maria Walsh ..Body WHEREAS, Maria Walsh, a proud Philadelphia resident, was named the 2014 Rose of Tralee. The twenty-seven year old was crowned as the 56th Rose during the annual International Rose of Tralee Festival in County Kerry, Ireland; and WHEREAS, The International Rose of Tralee Festival honors Irish women from around the world for their intelligence, career successes and volunteer work; and WHEREAS, Ms. Walsh was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Maria and her family relocated back to their original home in Shrule, County Mayo, Ireland when she was a young girl; and WHEREAS, Maria attended school in Ireland, eventually enrolling at Griffith College in Dublin and earning a degree in Journalism and Visual Media Arts; and WHEREAS, Following her graduation from college, the newest Rose of Tralee moved to New York City and later to the City of Brotherly Love. Maria still resides in Philadelphia, where she serves as store manager for Anthropologie on Rittenhouse Square; and WHEREAS, Maria is looking forward to being an ambassador for the Rose of Tralee International Festival. The primary objective of the festival is to connect the global Irish community of 70 million people at an annual celebration in Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland each year; and WHEREAS, As part of her duties and responsibilities associated with being the Rose of Tralee, Maria hopes to serve as a role model for young Irish children across the globe, urging them to get involved with supporting and volunteering for charitable groups and organizations. It is through these efforts that Maria hopes to show the world that a Rose truly can make difference; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor and congratulate the 2014 Rose of Tralee, Maria Walsh, for representing the Irish community and the entire City of Philadelphia with pride at the Rose of Tralee International Festival. RESOLVED FURTHER, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Maria Walsh and the Philadelphia Rose of Tralee Organizing Team, further evidencing the grateful appreciation and deep admiration of this legislative body. ..End