Kathryn Thomas on the Rose of Tralee and RTÉ: 'It's not been an easy time for anyone' 

Kathryn Thomas, pictured at the official launch of the Rose of Tralee International Festival 2024 in Airfield Estate. Picture: Domnick Walsh 

There isn't much that fazes Daithi's co-host, Kathryn Thomas. From swimming with sharks to fighting off machete-wielding cannibals high on hallucinogenic nuts in Papua New Guinea, Kathryn Thomas has done her fair share of adventuring on the show she made her name on, No Frontiers.

Life on life’s terms, however, has thrown some new challenges her way. This includes struggles with fertility and an initial reluctance in taking on the job of co-host of the Rose of Tralee. She worried about stepping on Dáithí’s toes. 

“I was apprehensive last year,” says Kathryn, back for the second year running. “People said it wouldn’t work, that they’d just thrown in a woman there for a bit of tokenism, blah, blah, blah. If you let that get into your head — I didn’t, but if you did — I think I’ve proven myself.”

The Rose of Tralee claims to be all about empowerment, female collegiality and celebrating Irishness. But we can’t ignore the elephant in the room. Is it twee and outdated? Kathryn doesn’t think so. And if you think it is, then turn it off, she says.

“It definitely started out as the Lovely Girls competition, and it would have been more of a pageant. It was important to me to address this on stage. If there are people who say it’s outdated, why don’t you ask the Roses why they are doing it?”

Every year, the roses travel to Kerry with the hopes of winning the coveted title.

Kathryn believes those women wouldn’t be there if it was merely a beauty pageant and she went straight for the jugular, asking the contestants what they thought on claims that it’s patronising and patriarchal. 

The answer was resoundingly positive: “They said; ‘Why wouldn’t we [want to be involved]? It’s an opportunity to network, meet friends for life, and travel for free, to connect with our Irish community.”

Kathryn Thomas, pictured at the official launch of the Rose of Tralee International Festival 2024 in Airfield Estate. Picture Andres Poveda

No doubt, Kathryn is a daredevil but does she shy away from any particular topics or is there certain things she’s told not to ask about? “Nothing that came to light last year,” she says. 

“I don’t think there are any subjects you can’t talk about, unless it was something really controversial that would apply to all RTÉ programming, nothing is off limits.

“Dáithí is so self-deprecating, he takes the mick out of himself but never anyone else. There’s no ego there. He took me under his wing.”

With the speculation around RTÉ’s top earners and media scrutiny, does it place a shadow on the festival? Are there more questions being asked of the presenters?

Dáithí Ó Sé and Kathryn Thomas meet this year’s 32 International Roses at the launch of the Rose of Tralee International Festival 2024 at Airfield Estate, Dublin.

“It’s not been an easy time for anybody,” says Kathryn. “The culture that we’re living in now is a very different media landscape from when I started 20-odd years ago. I always maintain — just stay true to yourself.”

The lack of diversity in the Rose of Tralee is something that was highlighted, particularly in 2018, when the first mixed-race rose from Waterford, Kirsten Mate Maher took the crown. Kirsten spoke to Shona.ie about how she was accused of playing “the race card”.

Kathryn believes that all should have the same opportunity to represent their heritage. “The Rose of Tralee embraces the Irish women who live abroad,” Kathryn says. 

“You shouldn’t have to qualify where you’re from. We are a nation of people who have gone out and built the world. We can compete on the world stage. You look at Rhashidat Adeleke and how amazing she is. We should be proud of diversity.”