Monaghan Rose will honour her aunt who also took part in festival and died at 21Former Rose of Tralee contestant Sinead Murphy died in a car accident when she was just 21 years old in 1993 - and now, her niece Leah hopes to do her family proud as Monaghan RoseView 2 Images Kathryn Thomas, Monaghan Rose Leah Murphy and Dáithí Ó Sé rose to the occasion at the official launch of the 2026 Rose of Tralee International Festival, joined by this year's 32 Roses at St Helen's Hotel, Stillorgan, Dublin. Picture Andres PovedaRose of Tralee contestant Leah Murphy says the festival will be very emotional for her as she will honour her late aunt, who also took part in the competition. Sinead Murphy was the Ulster Rose in 1991 and tragically died following a car accident in 1993. Now, her niece Leah is representing her native county Monaghan in this year’s festival and hopes to do her family proud. “I think Ireland is growing and it has been modernised, and I think Rose of Tralee has kept up with that.