Rose of Tralee star says people 'shocked' after discovering she's an electrician
Katelyn Cummins, 21, will represent Laois at this year's Rose of Tralee festival, which takes place on August 18 and 19. The 21-year-old is a second-year apprentice electrician from Ballyouskill, working with Alpha Drives in Portlaoise, while also helping her dad and her siblings on their dairy farm.
Opening up about taking a trade as her career path, she said: 'Yes, they would be shocked in a good way. People are very enthusiastic in a good way about it. They're very supportive and ask me if I know any more female electricians.
'I love doing it and I am so happy that there are more women getting into it now. It's so empowering for women to be able to see that there are other women doing it. I think that pushes other women to do that I am delighted about.'
Although she is unsure about mentioning it on stage to hosts Dáithí Ó Sé and Kathryn Thomas, she said she wants to highlight to people not to be afraid taking a different career path as a woman.
'I'm not sure I'll mention it on stage, but I do want to highlight it as part of my journey, like women shouldn't be afraid to take difficult paths or take different routes that is not traditional. It is becoming more common.' Laois Rose 20254, Katelyn Cummins
She said it was her dad who introduced her to being an electrician, adding: 'Growing up on a dairy farm, I'm so used to working with my hands… the hard work was always built into me from such a young age. School was never really for me. I didn't enjoy it that much. The Leaving Cert didn't stress me out. After I did work experience in TY, I knew I wanted to do something different.
'My dad dropped me in with the local electrician for the week and I absolutely loved it.'
Opening up about her decision to enter the Kerry festival, she said she was looking forward to making new friends.
She said: 'I originally took part in the Laois selection because I didn't have that many friends in Laois and I wanted to make more friends and have a better social life in Laois with lots of new girls.
'With my job, I just work with a lot of lads all the time so it would be nice to meet a lot of new girls.
'After school, girls drift apart, and it was just wanting to make more friends in the area.' She said her parents were 'absolutely delighted' when they heard she wanted to take part of he Rose of Tralee. Laois Rose 2025, Kaitlyn Cummins
She added: 'My parents are over the absolute Moon. They are so happy and proud. It's something I've always dreamed of as a little girl. I've never missed it.
'To be crowned the Laois Rose in April was amazing. They were so proud.' Kateyln added that last year's Rose of Tralee winner Keeley O'Grady encouraged her to enter the competition.
She said: 'I'm 20 and I was approached by the coordinator back two years ago when I was working part-time in a hotel. She was going around scouting for girls and she asked.
'But I had just turned 18 and I felt I was too young for it. I was doing my Leaving Cert year as well. Then when I saw Keeley O'Grady was 21 and crowned the Rose of Tralee it just showed that anything is possible, and you didn't have to have a certain background or be a certain age.
'That's probably what pushed me. I think it's so empowering for girls this year because there was such a wide age group.'
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Extra.ie
4 hours ago
- Extra.ie
Dáithí Ó Sé reveals he's never read his father's famous Leaving Cert-studied book
Dáithí Ó Sé has never read his late father's Leaving Cert-studied autobiography. Musician and author Maidhc Dainín Ó Sé is known to generations of school leavers for his humorous memoir, A Thig Ná Tit Orm, which became part of the curriculum 'about a year after' Ó Sé Junior finished school. Dáithí Ó Sé. Pic: Cathal Burke / 'There was an extract all right that we had to do, but it came in as a kind of replacement for Peig the year after I did my Leaving Cert, so thankfully I didn't have to sit through it,' Ó Sé told The light-hearted tone of Maidhc Dainín's recollections – in contrast to Peig – was 'the way my father lived his life', the presenter continued. 'He always enjoyed himself, and I think that came across in the book. But it was kind of important that it was seen as a fella writing in Irish having a bit of craic as well, as opposed to other serious stuff that's there. Dáithí Ó Sé. Pic: Brian McEvoy 'So that's why a lot of people remember it fondly, thankfully.' Asked if he'd read it by now, the Today host laughed: 'Not at all. Not at all. 'Sure, we'd have to listen to the stories at home, so Jesus Christ almighty, the last thing I'd have wanted to do was read it.'
Irish Daily Mirror
8 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Rose of Tralee star says people 'shocked' after discovering she's an electrician
A Rose of Tralee contestant has said people are 'shocked' when they discover she is an electrician. Katelyn Cummins, 21, will represent Laois at this year's Rose of Tralee festival, which takes place on August 18 and 19. The 21-year-old is a second-year apprentice electrician from Ballyouskill, working with Alpha Drives in Portlaoise, while also helping her dad and her siblings on their dairy farm. Opening up about taking a trade as her career path, she said: 'Yes, they would be shocked in a good way. People are very enthusiastic in a good way about it. They're very supportive and ask me if I know any more female electricians. 'I love doing it and I am so happy that there are more women getting into it now. It's so empowering for women to be able to see that there are other women doing it. I think that pushes other women to do that I am delighted about.' Although she is unsure about mentioning it on stage to hosts Dáithí Ó Sé and Kathryn Thomas, she said she wants to highlight to people not to be afraid taking a different career path as a woman. 'I'm not sure I'll mention it on stage, but I do want to highlight it as part of my journey, like women shouldn't be afraid to take difficult paths or take different routes that is not traditional. It is becoming more common.' Laois Rose 20254, Katelyn Cummins She said it was her dad who introduced her to being an electrician, adding: 'Growing up on a dairy farm, I'm so used to working with my hands… the hard work was always built into me from such a young age. School was never really for me. I didn't enjoy it that much. The Leaving Cert didn't stress me out. After I did work experience in TY, I knew I wanted to do something different. 'My dad dropped me in with the local electrician for the week and I absolutely loved it.' Opening up about her decision to enter the Kerry festival, she said she was looking forward to making new friends. She said: 'I originally took part in the Laois selection because I didn't have that many friends in Laois and I wanted to make more friends and have a better social life in Laois with lots of new girls. 'With my job, I just work with a lot of lads all the time so it would be nice to meet a lot of new girls. 'After school, girls drift apart, and it was just wanting to make more friends in the area.' She said her parents were 'absolutely delighted' when they heard she wanted to take part of he Rose of Tralee. Laois Rose 2025, Kaitlyn Cummins She added: 'My parents are over the absolute Moon. They are so happy and proud. It's something I've always dreamed of as a little girl. I've never missed it. 'To be crowned the Laois Rose in April was amazing. They were so proud.' Kateyln added that last year's Rose of Tralee winner Keeley O'Grady encouraged her to enter the competition. She said: 'I'm 20 and I was approached by the coordinator back two years ago when I was working part-time in a hotel. She was going around scouting for girls and she asked. 'But I had just turned 18 and I felt I was too young for it. I was doing my Leaving Cert year as well. Then when I saw Keeley O'Grady was 21 and crowned the Rose of Tralee it just showed that anything is possible, and you didn't have to have a certain background or be a certain age. 'That's probably what pushed me. I think it's so empowering for girls this year because there was such a wide age group.' Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
The Irish Sun
21 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Love Island bombshell Angel secretly dated Towie hunk weeks before entering the villa
LOVE Island bombshell Angel Swift secretly dated a Towie hunk - weeks before entering the villa. Angel, a 26-year-old aesthetics practitioner and salon owner from Maidstone, Advertisement 5 Angel Swift is Love Island's newest bombshell Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 5 The villa newcomer had a secret romance with Towie hunk Dan Edgar Credit: Supplied 5 Angel became coupled up with Ty upon arrival in Love Island Credit: Shutterstock Editorial But before joining the ITV2 show, Angel had a secret romance with Towie hunk Dan, 35, who A friend of Angel's told The Sun: "They were together during one of the May bank holidays in Marbella and spent time hanging out. "They were seen at various events, it was casual dating but they had fun together." Advertisement Read more on Love Island Meanwhile a source close to Dan claimed things were never serious. They said: "It was just one date really, and it was after he split from Ella. "Dan was very much single at the time." The Sun has contacted a rep for Love Island for comment. Advertisement Most read in Love Island After Angel entered the villa, Ty received a text telling him The twist unfolded during the Couple of Sorts game, where the Islanders were asked to predict which three boys Angel would find most attractive. Conor was placed third, Harry second, and Ty was voted her top choice. Ty then received a text informing him he had been automatically coupled up with Angel. Advertisement As a result, Lauren – who had previously been coupled up with Ty – was left single and was immediately sent a text telling her she had Stunned fans took to social media to react to the brutal moment. One wrote: "Lmfaooooo nah they did Lauren dirty." Love Island 2025 full lineup : A 30-year-old footballer with charm to spare. : A 22-year-old Manchester-based model, ready to turn heads. : A payroll specialist from Southampton, looking for someone tall and stylish. : International business graduate with brains and ambition. : A gym enthusiast with a big heart. : A Londoner with celebrity connections, aiming to find someone funny or Northern. : A personal trainer and semi-pro footballer, following in his footballer father's footsteps. : A towering 6'5' personal trainer. : A 25-year-old Irish rugby pro. : Love Island's first bombshell revealed as sexy Las Vegas pool party waitress. : The 24-year-old bombshell hails from London and works as a commercial banking executive. : Pro footballer and model entering Love Island 2025 as a bombshell. Giorgio Russo : The 30-year-old will be spending his summer in the sun, potentially his sister Alessia's successful tournament at the Euros in Switzerland. : Professional DJ from Manchester who appeared on X Factor 2016 in girl group Four of Diamonds. : Miss Bikini Ireland 2019 winner who hails from Dublin and works as a nail technician and personal trainer. Emma Munro: Harry Cooksley's ex who entered as a bombshell and works as a hydrogeologist. Departures : : Axed after an arrest over a machete attack emerged. He was released with no further action taken and denies any wrongdoing. : A model and motivational speaker who has overcome adversity after suffering life-changing burns in an accident. : A boxer with striking model looks, seeking love in the villa. : A teaching assistant from Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, who entered Love Island 2025 as a bombshell . : Works as a scaffolder day-to-day and plays semi-pro football on the side. Poppy Harrison: The bombshell broke up with her boyfriend after finding out she would be in the villa Will Means : The fourth fittest farmer in the UK according to Farmers' Weekly in 2023 entered the villa as a bombshell : An Irish actress part of the OG line-up. : 23-year-old personal banker from Glasgow who fancies herself as a 'good flirt'. : 27-year-old gym hunk who entered the show as a bombshell . Another said: "LAUREN BEING DUMPED THAT QUICKLY IS CRAZYYY." Advertisement A third added: "THE PRODUCERS ARE RUDEEEE LMAOOOO." Now settled into the villa, Angel has also been getting to know OG Islander Harry. Will Harry remain Love Island airs on ITV2 and ITVX. Advertisement 5 Dan has starred in Towie since joining the line-up in 2015 Credit: Getty 5 Angel has been getting to know Harry Cooksley in the villa Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
