Dublin Rose: 'The love and support have been way louder'

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Dominique Farrell

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Aug 11, 2026, 1:46:56 PM (yesterday) Aug 11

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Dublin Rose Suad Mooge has told RTÉ Entertainment that the "love and support" she has received for entering this year's Rose of Tralee have been "way louder" than any negativity posted online.

When she was chosen as the Dublin Rose in May, the Sligo-born medical scientist told RTÉ Radio 1's Liveline that she was "shocked but not surprised" at comments on social media by people saying she "is not Irish", describing it as "part of the experience of growing up" in Ireland as a person of colour.

Speaking today at the launch of this year's Rose of Tralee Festival in Dublin, she told RTÉ Entertainment that she has never received any negativity about her participation "in person" while the support she has received since May has been "amazing".

"It's been so wholesome and just so beautiful to see all the support for me.

"Everyone's fighting my corner, everyone's cheering me on. It ignites a fire in you to keep going and keep pushing forward."

She described the relationship between this year's 32 finalists as "really lovely".

"The first day, I was super, super nervous, but then we had a whole performance piece and choreography with the girls," she recounted.

"Everybody's warmed up to each other now and it's just so beautiful.

"There is such a sisterhood. Even on day one, we all blended really well together and made friends. It was really easy. Everyone's energy and everyone's personality just really work well together."

When asked about the compliments she has received for her positivity, the Dublin Rose replied: "I'm just such a people person... I get charged from speaking to people. I can yap for days.

"[It's] just a reflection of the people I keep around me. The beautiful people around me, they've built me up to the woman I am today. My beautiful mom, my sisters, [they're] always building me up, and here I am. It's got me this far."

The Rose of Tralee airs on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player on Monday 17 August and Tuesday 18 August from 8pm.