Aisling Guilfoyle;
Credit: Daniel Frank
Chronicle.lu recently had the opportunity to speak with the six young women who are vying to be the 2025 Luxembourg Rose.
The winning Rose will be crowned at the Luxembourg Rose Ball, taking place at Parc Hotel Alvisse in Luxembourg-Dommeldange on Saturday 17 May, and will represent the Grand Duchy at the Rose of Tralee International Festival in August 2025.
The Rose of Tralee International Festival is one of Ireland’s largest and longest running festivals. Dating back to 1959, it celebrates Irish communities and in particular young women of Irish descent (Roses), from countries all around the world. Roses are selected in a number of centres worldwide, with over 30 Roses subsequently participating in the Rose of Tralee International Festival, held annually in the town of Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland. Contestants take part in various activities during the five-day festival including parades and community events, as well as private and live televised interviews. The highlight of the festival is the selection of the International Rose of Tralee who will represent Ireland and the festival, both locally and around the world, during her one-year reign.
The festival name was inspired by a 19th century ballad written by William Pembroke Mulchinock about his forbidden love, Mary, whose beauty earned her the title of “The Rose of Tralee”.
In April 2025, the Luxembourg Rose Centre confirmed the names of this year's Luxembourg Rose contestants. Among them is Aisling Guilfoyle, who spoke with Chronicle.lu about her Irish heritage and her reasons for entering the competition.
Chronicle.lu: What motivated you to take part in the competition and what has been the highlight of your time as a contestant so far?
Aisling Guilfoyle: I always said that before I turned 30, if the Rose of Luxembourg happened again, I’d sign up. For years, I thought it had stopped for good - and then suddenly, it was back. I didn’t even hesitate. My dad’s been saying for ages: “You need to sign up one day”, and it finally felt like the perfect moment. I’m working in Luxembourg now (not studying abroad for once!) and the timing just lined up.
What I’ve loved most so far is being part of something that feels both familiar and new. It’s been really fun seeing how many people have asked me questions about the festival - some didn’t even know it existed - and now they’re genuinely curious. It’s sparked conversations, little moments of connection and even a few nostalgic stories from other Irish people I know. That kind of shared curiosity makes it feel like we’re all rediscovering something together.
And the truth is, the Rose Festival was always meant to be a reunion. A real one. It was created as a way for Irish people living abroad - scattered across countries for work, love, studies or adventure - to return home once a year and celebrate being Irish together. That means a lot to me. It reminds me of how my own family reunites with our cousins in Cork - loud, warm, a little chaotic, but full of heart. Being part of this taps into something really personal and meaningful.
Chronicle.lu: Tell us a little about yourself, your Irish heritage and what being Irish means to you.
Aisling Guilfoyle: I’m French-Irish and grew up in Luxembourg. My Irish side comes from my dad, and even though I didn’t grow up in Ireland full time, it was always very present - loudly present, in the best way. Being Irish to me was seeing my cousins in Cork and barely understanding a word of what they were saying but feeling completely at home anyway. It meant the annual trip to the Forty Foot, no matter the weather, because it was tradition. It meant road trips with Tayto crisps and folding the packet into a little triangle because my dad taught me to. It meant that one pit stop on the way home from the airport for a 99. It meant my mom finding Irish sausages at Home From Home (or back then, Little Britain) and stocking up like we were planning for winter.
Being Irish meant being part of a huge family where everyone is somehow the same age and always delighted to see you. It’s also in the way Irish people speak - with this eye contact and intensity that makes you wonder mid-conversation: “Wait… are we about to kiss?” There’s just so much heart behind the way we connect. For me, being Irish isn’t about one definition - it’s this joyful mix of memories, family habits and that loud, beautiful way of loving and storytelling that feels completely ours.
Chronicle.lu: What do you love most about Luxembourg and Ireland?
Aisling Guilfoyle: What I love most about Luxembourg is how naturally it brings people together. Growing up here, it was just a thing - Friday nights meant meeting up in the city, all cultures, no questions asked. We were all different, but we clicked. That sense of openness shaped the way I see people and the world now.
And Ireland… Ireland is like this big feeling. What I love most about it is how it carries itself with quiet pride. You say you’re Irish and instantly people smile. They already expect a story, a laugh, some kindness. And somehow, the culture always delivers. It’s the warmth, the wit and the way we always manage to make someone feel at home, no matter where in the world we are.
Chronicle.lu: What social issues are you most interested in and passionate about?
Aisling Guilfoyle: I’m really passionate about supporting local, small businesses - especially in a country like Luxembourg where things are developing fast. As bigger chains move in, I worry that we risk losing the heart of what makes this place so personal. That’s why I co-created Woop or Womp, a platform to spotlight local gems - cafes, restaurants, hidden activities, sports teams, artists and creative spaces that deserve to be seen. These businesses are built by people who took a risk and brought something they love to life. I want to help make sure they don’t disappear under the noise. Storytelling and visibility are everything, and it’s one small way I can give back to the place I’ve grown up in.
Chronicle.lu: What advice would you give to your younger self?
Aisling Guilfoyle: I’d tell her: keep creating. Seriously - those weird videos, those hours spent editing on clunky software, the storytelling experiments… none of it was random. That curiosity you had was your compass. Just because it felt fun doesn’t mean it wasn’t important. You were drawn to stories before you knew what storytelling even meant.
So don’t overthink it. Don’t wait for permission. Keep playing, keep making stuff and know that it’ll all make sense one day - even the cringey YouTube videos you tried to hide. Trust yourself. The pieces fit.
