The managing director of the Rose of Tralee Festival has appealed to local businesses for extra financial support this year blaming the decision by Fáilte Ireland to cut its free street entertainment grant by 50% for the plea.

She may not have won the Rose of Tralee crown but Melbourne entrant Christine McGrattan is, in her own words, going back to Australia with another title — the one she was really after.

The odds were tightening today as punters made last-minute bets on who is going to wow the judges to be crowned this year’s Rose of Tralee.

A 20-year-old primary school teacher from Kilkenny has been crowned the 2004 Rose of Tralee.

THE Rose of Tralee festival committee is angry over a decision to axe Marty Whelan as the presenter of the televised part of the contest.