Aoife Kelly de Klerk was born in Tipperary, became an occupational therapist and worked in the National Rehabilitation Hospital for 2 years before winning the Rose of Tralee. After a year representing Ireland in various capacities from the White House to the Burj Al L’Arb, she left for South Africa, for a year, to support her Mother in Law who was unwell.
She returned to study a post grad in management, and worked into America and the Middle East in the luxury good industry for five years thereafter. In this time she encountered the overwhelming love of Jesus, and started her journey of faith. During this time she pursue her passion for photography, with a fervent belief in its capacity to tell stories and shape experiences, a conduit for a transference of faith, working a lot with chronically and terminally ill children. Whilst annually returning to Ireland, she returned ‘home’ to the
East Coast of Ireland in 2022 with her husband and three children, with a deep seated desire to further explore her faith through a Masters in Fine Art Photography, and give expression to the encounters she has had and continues to have in her life. Her interests lies in belief, belonging, and empathy.
