NI Rose of Tralee contestant leaves viewers in tears after tragic loss of dad and their last phone call
Ottawa Rose Aidan said she entered the Rose of Tralee to honour her late beloved father
A Rose of Tralee contestant has opened up about the death of her beloved Northern Irish dad as she bravely recalled their last phone call during an appearance on live TV.
Ottawa Rose Aidan Russell, said she entered the Rose of Tralee to honour her late father from Northern Ireland. The 27-year-old was working in Dublin at the Embassy of Canada to Ireland in March last year when her dad called her and said he could no longer lift a kettle.
By the end of June, he was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune and neurological condition, similar to multiple sclerosis. Sadly the family lost him just before Christmas and Aidan still recalls the last phone call she had with her father.
While she didn't make it home to Canada on time to say goodbye, Aidan fondly remembered their last phone call while speaking to Rose of Tralee host Daithi O'Se on RTE TV on Tuesday night.
She said: "We had a really quick chat, he said he was in pain, he said 'I love you, I'll call you later,' that was our last phone call." She explained that her father was very physically fit and loved going for runs and "biked 20 miles every morning," adding: "He was so physically fit and strong, he was Mr Northern Ireland."
Aidan moved to Ottawa six years ago to complete a Master’s degree in International Affairs, specialising in Diplomacy and Foreign Policy. She has since been accepted into the Canadian Foreign Service as a Diplomat and currently work in Indigenous Services.
As a dual citizen of Ireland and Canada, she says she had the privilege of living and working in Dublin last year with the Trade Commissioner Service at the Embassy of Canada to Ireland.
Outside of work, Aidan runs a freelance marketing business, captains volleyball teams and said she can usually be found "playing pickup footy, painting, reading, cooking for friends or heading to Pilates".
Reflecting on her Northern Irish links, she said: "My dad, who was born in Ireland and passed just before Christmas, always said my love for Ireland was in my blood. It’s in my love of sea swims, hikes in the Mournes, how my heart swells showing loved ones Coumeenoole Beach, the indescribable sense of feeling at home there and how a cup of tea with an ungodly amount of honey makes everything better. Honouring that love as the Ottawa Rose means everything."
Sadly, while in Ireland this week for the Rose of Tralee, Aidan said she became overwhelmed with grief, prompting her to take a step back. But her fellow Roses were there to support her.
"We had a really tough night on Wednesday, we were dealing with some of the legal stuff. The outpouring of love and support I got from 31 girls who I'd known for four days... I can't begin to describe how much love, support and kindness I felt that night," she added.
The Ottawa Rose then stunned the crowd with a rendition of Someone's Watching Over Me, which was a tribute to her late dad.
And viewers watching at home loved Aidan too, with some saying they hoped she would win. "Oh wow the Ottawa rose was stunning," said one X user.
"The Ottawa rose got blurry really quick for some reason," said another person, adding a tear emoji.
"She's my winner. Gwan Ottawa," added another.
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