Family crest causes Rose of Tralee conspiracy furore

The Rose of Tralee was yesterday caught up in a controversy, complete with conspiracy theories that threatened to ruin the contest’s innocent allure.

But before any fans become disillusioned by the thought they have been duped all these years, the annual festival’s organisers insisted the issue is all just one big misunderstanding.

In a rare moment of genuine shock for the long-running show, the morning after the night Texas Rose Haley O’Sullivan was named the 2013 winner, accusations emerged as to when exactly the decision to crown her was really made.

Here is the 2013 Rose of Tralee Haley O'Sullivan #roseoftralee pic.twitter.com/N01kbTYYJ3

— Rose of Tralee (@RoseofTralee_) August 20, 2013

The controversy appeared to sweep the legs from under competition organisers’ insistence that no one knows the winner until host Dáithí Ó Sé reveals all on stage.

The issue was highlighted during an interview with Ms O’Sullivan on Today FM’s The Ray D’Arcy Show.

Despite listeners texting in to hit out at the situation, festival spokesman John Drummey insisted the “shock” news was simply a misunderstanding.

“Yes, apparently that was an O’Sullivan family crest on the cutlery on Monday night,” he said. “That’s just a coincidence.

“Newbridge just wanted to show they can provide cutlery with the family crest.”

Mr Drummey said the silverware shown on Monday night was for the winning escort, not the winning rose.

Newbridge Silverware also backed up the response, describing the revelation as “purely coincidental”.

“RTÉ filmed promotional stock and the O’Sullivan crest was picked because it’s a good Kerry name,” said a Newbridge spokesperson. “That is not the actual cutlery that the winning Rose or escort receives. They will have their own family crest engraved on it.”

The rejection of the claim was further supported by independent bookmaker Paddy Power, whose spokesperson said that any suggestion that those close to the show were using inside knowledge to bet on the winner were wide of the mark.

“She [Haley O’Sullivan] was actually the least fancied, by punters, so it was either a very, very, tight-lipped secret or the conspiracy theory might be a little but off par,” the bookies’ spokesman said.

However, despite the quick moves to pour cold water on the claims, the conspiracy suggestion was still the subject of heated online rumours last night.