31/07/2025
We are very proud to introduce our representative as our Rose at the Castlerea Rose Festival.
Alisha Manning is 18 years old and hails from Castlerea. Alisha is no stranger to the limelight, the stage, or to helping out within the community. Although she doesn’t play football, she is regularly involved in assisting with bingo and other events for Castlerea St Kevin's and is a valued member of the club.
Alisha has been heavily involved in musical theatre and musical societies across the west of Ireland. She has performed with St Mel’s Musical Society in Longford in their fabulous productions of Footloose (2023), which received an AIMS nomination for Best Ensemble, and Legally Blonde (2024), which received an AIMS nomination for Best Choreography.
Last year, she joined Castlerea Musical Society in their wonderful production of 9 to 5. This year, she became part of the cast of Sweeney Todd with Galway Musical Society, which received a phenomenal four AIMS nominations.
Alisha also featured in Castlerea Community School’s last three productions: Grease, Back to the 80s, and, most recently, she starred as the leading lady, Nancy, in last year’s production of Oliver.
Alisha has been a member of Evolution Stage School since the age of four, attending classes in Longford, Roscommon, and Carrick-on-Shannon. It was with her Evolution family that it all began. She was taught by her two idols: Tracey Carty (dance teacher) and Paul Hennessy (singing teacher). Tracey began her career with the famous Billy Barry Children, while Paul was one of the original Irish Tenors. From a very young age, Alisha has received top-class training in the performing arts.
She is forever grateful to Paul and Tracey for recognising her potential and giving her the opportunity to work alongside some of the best in the industry. Paul and Tracey are the co-founders of Evolution Stage School and, along with Gerry McCann, are also the founders of the Longford Traditional Panto, in which Alisha has been lucky enough to perform for the past six years. She has worked alongside incredible talents such as Jenny McCabe, Damien Douglas, and X Factor star Mary Byrne.
Evolution has opened countless doors and opportunities for Alisha in the world of musical theatre. She now enjoys working as a dance teaching assistant alongside Tracey, helping to guide the younger Evolution students.
Alisha successfully secured one of just 50 places—out of over 1,000 auditionees—on a hybrid course with a prestigious performing arts college in London. She completed this course while finishing her final year of secondary school.
Alisha has now secured her place at college in Dublin this September, where she will be studying Musical Theatre.
Having known Alisha since she was a tiny baby who overcame major medical challenges from birth, we are immensely proud of the bright, talented young woman she has become. It is our absolute honour for her to represent O’Gara’s Contractors at the Castlerea Rose Festival.
We wish her the very best of luck.
