1Recognizing and honoring the 2014 Rose of Tralee, Maria Walsh,
2for her accomplishment and service to her city, her
3Commonwealth, her country and the global Irish community.

4WHEREAS, The Rose of Tralee is one of Ireland's largest and
5longest running festivals celebrating its 55th year; and

6WHEREAS, The festival is based on the 19th century Irish
7ballad about a "lovely and fair" woman named Mary who was called
8the Rose of Tralee; and

9WHEREAS, The festival selects a young woman of Irish descent
10from Ireland or from the Irish diaspora around the world each
11year to be the "Rose of Tralee," an ambassador for the festival
12and the worldwide Irish community; and

13WHEREAS, The Rose is selected based on her personality and
14suitability to be an ambassador for the festival and Irish
15diaspora; and

16WHEREAS, Based on those qualities, Maria Walsh was selected

1as Philadelphia's Rose of Tralee this year, going on to be
2selected as the international Rose of Tralee in a competition of
3Roses from around the world; and

4WHEREAS, Maria Walsh, through her courage and outstanding
5character, has brought honor to her city, Commonwealth, and
6country in addition to Irish people the world over; and

7WHEREAS, After Boston and New York City, Philadelphia is the
8largest American city with the highest percentage of people of
9Irish ancestry; and

10WHEREAS, The Irish community has made significant
11contributions to the building of this Commonwealth and country
12and the culture of both; and

13WHEREAS, Maria Walsh, as an exemplary representative of the
14confluence of those many communities will make an outstanding
15ambassador; therefore be it

16RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize and
17honor the 2014 Rose of Tralee, Maria Walsh, for her
18accomplishment and service to her city, her Commonwealth, her
19country and the global Irish community.