On Wednesday, April 30, 2014 the City of Chicago City Council and Mayor Rahm Emanuel presented Colleen Marie Nolan, the 2014 Chicago Rose with a Resolution to congratulate her on being selected to participate in the Rose of Tralee selection in Ireland and for representing our fine city!

Colleen Nolan was selected as the Chicago Rose on April 5, 2014 at the Irish American Heritage Center. The contestants competing to become the Chicago Rose were generously sponsored by the following companies & families: South Side Irish Imports, Three Counties, University of Notre Dame, Doolin Haven, Fado Irish Pub, McNamara Irish Dancers, Foley Orthodontics, The Greene Family, Blowtique, Irish American News, Haltsted Harp, Skinny & Houli, Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella, P.C., Moran Transportation, South Side Irish Parade, Saorise, Old St. Patrick’s Church, Irish American Heritage Center, Hidden Shamrock, Beverly Bakery, 2 Gingers and Flood Brothers.

Colleen Marie Nolan is a 25 year old alumna of the University of Notre Dame where she graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Political Science and Accountancy. She now works in Finance for Grosvenor Capital Management, an alternative investment firm, and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Colleen is extremely active in the Chicago Irish community: she is the youngest member on the American Ireland Fund Young Leaders Steering Committee and is the current Vice President of Sponsorship on the Executive Board of the Young Irish Fellowship Club of Chicago. She is also an active member of the Ireland Network and is very involved with her parish and Rose of Tralee sponsor, Old St. Patrick’s Church, as a member of the of the Old St. Pat’s Young Leaders Advisory Board. Growing up, Colleen was an avid Irish step dancer and volleyball player, earning her the position of President of the Notre Dame Irish Step Dance Team and a spot on the varsity volleyball team at Notre Dame her freshman year. Colleen is exceptionally passionate about her Irish heritage and is thrilled to represent Chicago as the 2014 Chicago Rose of Tralee.

Colleen will fly to Ireland to join young women of Irish descent from countries around the world, including Great Britain, Europe, Dubai, Australia and New Zealand. Colleen will be an ambassador for Chicago, connecting the global Irish community in a celebration of their rich culture and sharing the heritage of Irish People at home and abroad. Her goal is to be selected from amongst the other participants representing their respective countries to be named the Rose of Tralee during the International Rose of Tralee broadcasted live on Irish TV for two simultaneous nights.

The applications, interviews and stage appearances were evaluated by three well-respected members of the Irish American community, Nicholas Michael, Vice Consul General of Ireland, Bill McTighe, Manager of the Shannon Rovers Irish Pipe Band and Catherine O’Connell, music artist and past Chicago Rose. The stage appearances were emce’d by Bridget Rose Conway, our 2013 Chicago Rose and James Sheahan & Mike Houlihan from the Skinny & Houli radio show. Judges then convened to tally the final scores and the evening culminated in the announcement of this year’s Chicago Rose, Colleen Nolan.

The mission of the Chicago Rose of Tralee is to provide enrichment opportunities that will encourage young women of Irish descent to be exemplary role models for tomorrow’s youth and to make a positive difference in the world. The Chicago Rose of Tralee is already accepting applications for 2015 Rose candidates, Rose petals and Rosebuds. For more information visit our website at www.ChicagoRoseOfTralee.com or email at info@chicagoroseoftralee.com.

Queen Eileen Kapolnek