AS this year’s Limerick Rose, Leah McMahon, prepares to represent the Treaty at the annual Rose of Tralee Festival this weekend, she is hopeful her story will inspire others to believe in themselves and see what the path to education can bring.
The 29-year-old, originally from Southill but spent her teens growing up in Castletroy, was selected as the Limerick Rose in May.
Leah graduated with a Bachelor of Business Studies at Kemmy Business School from University of Limerick (UL) in 2019 and has since forged a successful career in financial planning.
However Leah’s journey has not been without its challenges, as she found out she was pregnant during her third year of college.
Leah recalled finding out the news the week before her Christmas exams, which she sat and passed successfully, and went on to complete her full work placement just weeks before welcoming her daughter Ella, now seven, with her partner Al.
“My fear was that if I didn’t go back and do fourth year, I would get a bit complacent and I wouldn’t go back the following year. That’s why I wanted to go in and get it done – I wanted my degree,” Leah said.
Leah returned to UL the following September and completed her final year, while Al also completed his studies in Psychology and Sociology. The couple graduated together at UL in August 2019.
“I put a really high importance on education; that, in all the circumstances and barriers I faced, I never said ‘I’ll drop education’. I always kept it at the top of my priorities, because it was something that I believed would build me up,” the Limerick Rose explained.
Leah went on to complete the Qualified Financial Advisor (QFA), Retirement Planning Advisor (RPA) and Specialist Investment Advisor (SIA) exams before attaining a Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning.
Now working as pinancial planner with Castle Capital Financial Planning, Leah also delivers a female-focused financial literacy workshop, Bláthú (the Irish word for ‘blossoming’), and is a regular media contributor.
Leah also volunteers with homeless charity Novas, and says she wants to continue to share that message about the importance of education.
“I’m on the other side where I’m not homeless, I’m not in addiction. I’m very grateful to be in the position that I’m in, but I know that a lot of the people [availing of Novas’ services] are from the same areas that I’m from … It’s about highlighting the importance of Novas, and even the Limerick Youth Service, and helping people to build their lives.”
Leah was joined on Shannonside earlier this week at the George Hotel by an entire bouquet of roses, who visited the Treaty City as part of a tour ahead of the Rose of Tralee competition, kicking off this Friday.
