2025 Cork Rose Nancy Lehane is gearing up to take on the Camino in aid of Cliona’s Foundation alongside fellow Rose of Tralee alumni from June 6. Cliona’s Foundation is the 2026 charity partner of the Rose of Tralee International Festival, and the national charity provides financial support for families caring for seriously ill children across Ireland. The charity supports families with non-medical costs associated with children’s illnesses including travel, accommodation and hospital parking. Nancy will join 2025 Boston Rose Maeve Kelly, Cork’s 2025 Escort
Niall McGrath, Limerck man and Escort Joe Hennessy and 2023 New Zealand Escort Tim Buckley on the walk. Nancy learned a lot about Cliona’s Foundation from Cork Rose Centre’s Katie Connolly, who works for the charity. “I’ve done charity work since I could walk and that was pushed by my parents; they always pushed us to support charities. “You’ll never know if and when you would need to use a charity yourself because it could be you in their situation at any stage. “It is
all about helping people who are struggling because if you were struggling, you would appreciate any help you would get,” Nancy told The Corkman. Nancy had completed about 125km of the walk previously but is currently nursing an injury. “I did walk 125km a couple of years ago and this year we are doing Vigo to Santiago. “I have a bit of an injury this year and I am hoping it won’t niggle at me but I’m sure we will be fine – we will
push each other through it,” Nancy explained. The Meelin woman is well aware of the physical and mental strain that the mammoth walk can cause. “There are good days and bad days, and as the days go on, it gets harder because your legs are sore but everyone you’re walking with is in the same boat, which makes it a bit easier to get through it,” Nancy said. The five walkers will have to hit certain milestones each day in, with a 25km goal on
day one and a further 25km worth of steps necessary on day two to keep up with the pack. “We have to be in a certain place every day and we have to walk 25km the first two days, and it gets shorter each day from there. “It is better to get the bigger distances out of the way at the start,” she explained. During the Cork Rose selection night, the 500-strong crowd raised over €1,000 for Cliona’s Foundation through a raffle on the night.
“I would like to thank everyone who supported the raffle on the night. “The money is going to a great cause and that we can play a part in helping these families through difficult circumstances,” she said. Nancy also paid tribute to Lexi Linnane, who was selected as the 2026 Cork Rose. “I’m sure Lexi is already embracing the role as the Cork Rose and I have no doubt that she will do a wonderful job throughout the year and I can’t wait to see
what she gets up to,” Nancy said. The donation link to Cliona’s Foundation can be found here.
Nancy Lehane, Cork Rose 2025, Camino, Cliona’s Foundation, Rose of Tralee, Maeve Kelly, Niall McGrath, Joe Hennessy, Tim Buckley, Katie Connolly, Lexi Linnane