The 29-year-old from Ros an Mhíl, a Gaeltacht village in Conamara in the west of Ireland, explained how things "took a dip" when her late father became ill.
"The Leaving Cert year was a complex year," she said. "Unfortunately, dad was diagnosed with cancer at the start of that year – me and my dad were very close – and I suppose the whole year was just trying to process that.
"He passed away in December. My brain just put it into a little chest and tried to ignore it and not deal with it, but you can't do that, it will always come out in the end.
"In my second year of college, I did have a dip in my mental health, and I do think it was just a delayed response," she said.
Ms Jennings said she knew she "couldn't do it by myself anymore" shortly after she turned sixteen and said she "wouldn't be who I am today" without going on her difficult journey.
"When you're in a good place, that’s the best time to work on yourself."
— Entertainment on RTÉ (@RTE_Ents) August 19, 2024
Galway Rose, Deirdre Jennings, shines a light on mental health during the #RoseofTralee pic.twitter.com/2sJB1Vsrl4
Across the night, viewers were introduced to Roses from - Dubai, Waterford, North Carolina, Cork, Perth, San Francisco, Melbourne, Wicklow, Monaghan, Ohio, Louth, Leitrim, Kerry, Galway, Newfoundland and Labrador, Kilkenny, Sydney and New Zealand.
Craic agus ceol
During the over three-hour live show, Roses hit the right notes on stage with a string of musical delights entertaining viewers, from a rousing rendition of May The Road Rise Up To Meet You on the harp, a stunning fiddle performance of Crested Hens, an angelic outing of traditional Irish song Mo Ghile Mear, an energetic bagpipe routine to I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) by the Proclaimers, a stunning take of Red is the Rose, and a heartfelt version of An Cailín Álainn.
Other Roses played their cards right with a slick magic trick, a bouncy jig to rock hit Hang on Sloopy, a competitive row-off, some pom-tastic cheerleading, and a sign-language performance to an Ed Sheeran track.
The 33rd Rose
A special performance from acclaimed Irish singer-songwriter, Lyra, brought the tent down at the Kerry Sports Academy in the MTU. Singing We Are Beautiful, the Cork musician's poetic track echoed the theme of the 32 strong, independent and intelligent Irish women taking part in this year's festival.
Several viewers took to social media rooting for Lyra to be Ireland's Eurovision entrant for 2025.
LYRA seriously needs to go to #Eurovision! Insane talent! #RoseofTralee
— Liam Holton (@LiamHoltonDrums) August 19, 2024
Find out everything you need to know about the 32 Roses here
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All images by Domnick Walsh Photography
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