Rose McDonnell

At the 23rd Perth Rose of Tralee Selection Ball held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel last night, Rose McDonnell came out on top of a very strong field.

Rose is 25 years old and was born in Drogheda, County Louth, as were both of her parents Susan and Jack McDonnell. Rose is a Doctor at Joondalup Health Campus.

Rose told us, when she is not working, she loves to dance, run, enjoys pilates and generally likes to keep well. She said she hoped to return to Ireland to work there as an obstetrician and plans to work in places of need in the world to gain a richer and more varied view of human nature. This trip will now take the form of representing Perth at the Rose of Tralee in August.

The Annual event in its 50th year in Ireland is the highlight of the WA Irish Social Calendar. Congratulations to the committee, Bronagh Henderson, Mairead Inga, Eileen McCann and Rachel Rogan on organising a wonderful night.

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Sean Walsh has been missing from Randwick, Sydney since early Sunday morning.  We ask you to be vigilant and help spread the word.

Sean's sister Brid, who has just arrived from Ireland says it is "completely out of character" for her younger brother to go missing.

The 26-year-old traveller, who arrived in Sydney last November on a year-long world trip, was last seen by his housemates at his home in Howard Street, Randwick on Sunday at 3am, Brid Walsh said.

"He has a very close relationship with my mother and the rest of us, and is in regular contact. For him to go missing like that is completely out of character," said Brid, who arrived in Sydney from Waterford, Ireland yesterday with her sister Mairead after hearing of Sean's disappearance.

"It doesn't make any sense to any of us. We have no explanation at all. We have nothing to follow through as to why this has happened."

She said Sean had not taken his mobile phone or any of his belongings with him.

Sean had previously been travelling in Japan and New Zealand, but was considering staying in Sydney if he was successful in his application for a job as a biomedical engineer, Ms Walsh said. He was also about to go home to Ireland for a holiday on May 26, she said.

"His parents are absolutely worried, but they have a lot of support from home."

Sean, an avid sportsman had played Gaelic football and hurling at Michael Cusacks GAA Club in Sydney and has a lot of friends, she said. "He is a very easy-going, laidback person, and very friendly. He has a lot of friends ... always surrounded by people, always interacting, always socialising with people," Ms Walsh said.

Sean Walsh is described as being of white or European appearance, 175 centimetres tall with a thin build, shaved brown hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion. He was last seen wearing khaki boardshorts, khaki-hooded jumper and thongs, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to phone Maroubra police on 9349 9299 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

by Danielle O'leary

My association with Fr Laurence Murphy goes back over 30 years and I have for some time endeavoured to get his story for you, our readers. The following was edited by our own Danielle O’Leary from an interview I did with Fr Laurence.
Fred Rea (Editor).

Father Laurence Murphy believes that priests are “one of the people rather than above the people”. The special role of the priest is one of a special path that very special and few people follow and Father Murphy’s story is in testament to this exceptional journey.