Donegal Rose Emma Nelis will be flying the flag for her home county on the first night of the televised final of the 2026 Rose of Tralee contest.
The 24-year-old Gartan woman will be among 18 Roses appearing on RTÉ One tonight, Monday, 17th August, as the Rose Selection is broadcast live from the Kerry Sports Academy at MTU.
Emma was crowned Donegal Rose for 2026 at An Chúirt Hotel earlier this year, after representing The Lagoon Termon at the county selection night.
She never expected to be awarded the title and thought the other 20 “amazing ladies” around her had more of a chance.
“I was ready to clap and then they called out me and my heart literally dropped. I couldn’t believe it. It was really surreal,” she told Donegal Daily.
Emma is the daughter of Michael and Mary Nelis, and has a sister, Claire, and two brothers, Declan and Michael.
Her home life in Gartan is busy and close-knit, and her brother Michael is one of the people inspiring her Rose journey.
Michael suffered life-changing injuries after he was knocked down in a collision in Letterkenny in 2009. He was rushed to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin after the accident and now lives at home with the support of his family and carers from Acquired Brain Injury Ireland.
“They didn’t think he was going to pull through, but he did. My dad is his main carer, and thankfully, from Acquired Brain Injury Ireland, we get carers out, which is a huge relief,” Emma said.
Emma has been using her time as Donegal Rose to promote disability awareness and highlight the work of Acquired Brain Injury Ireland.
The Donegal Rose also has family cheering her on from further afield. Her brother Declan lives in Australia and has two daughters who are “buzzing that their auntie is going to be on TV”.
Another part of Emma’s story is her family’s unique connection to Glenveagh Castle.
Her mother Mary has worked in Glenveagh for almost 50 years. While working for the last owner, Henry McIlhenny, she was asked to take on the role of caretaker.
Emma’s family once lived inside Glenveagh Castle for more than 16 years.
Although Emma was born some years after her family had lived there, she has her own close connection to Glenveagh, having worked there as a tour guide for the past four summers.
That connection to Glenveagh, and to Donegal’s history and landscape, is something Emma hopes to carry with her to Tralee.
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“I love talking about Donegal and tourism because sometimes when people come to Ireland, they go to Dublin or they go to Kerry, but I think promoting Donegal is very important,” she said.
Donegal Rose Emma Nelis. Photo: Stevie Toye Logopix
Emma’s mother’s side of the family is from Creeslough, while her father’s side is from Gartan.
She teaches History and English at Errigal College in Letterkenny, but her experience with young people extends beyond the classroom. She coaches the under-8 girls at CLG An Tearmainn and also plays with the senior ladies team.
Emma said she hopes to be somebody that young players and students can look up to.
“I would like to be a good ambassador for Donegal, and hopefully maybe a good ambassador for Ireland, promoting tourism, and being a good ambassador for the younger kids,” she said.
Donegal viewers will have more than one local connection to watch during this year’s festival.
UAE Rose Enya Crone also has Donegal roots, while Melbourne Rose and PhD student Mikaela Whitty has family connections in with Inishowen.
Donegal Rose Emma Nelis from Gartan in good company in Tralee with UAE Rose Enya Crone
Emma will appear tonight alongside Roses representing Cavan, Chicago, Clare, Cork, Derry, Dublin, Kildare, Leitrim, London, Melbourne, Monaghan, New Zealand, Newfoundland, Perth, Texas, Westmeath and Yorkshire.
The remaining Roses, including the UAE Rose, will appear on Tuesday night before the winner is chosen.
See more: UAE Rose Enya Crone proud to carry Gweedore roots from Dubai to Tralee
2026 Rose of Tralee International Festival TV Selection Nights:
Note: The list is alphabetical, but not in the actual order Roses will appear. The actual order of appearance is not confirmed before the televised final.
MONDAY 17 August (in alphabetical order)
CAVAN
CHICAGO
CLARE
CORK
DERRY
DONEGAL
DUBLIN
KILDARE
LEITRIM
LONDON
MELBOURNE
MONAGHAN
NEW ZEALAND
NEWFOUNDLAND
PERTH
TEXAS
WESTMEATH
YORKSHIRE
TUESDAY 18 August (in alphabetical order)
CAROLINA
GALWAY
KERRY
KILKENNY
LOUTH
NEW YORK
ROSCOMMON
SAN FRANCISCO
SLIGO
TIPPERARY
TORONTO
UAE
WATERFORD
WICKLOW