Newly crowned Rose of Tralee Maria Walsh, representing Philadelphia, is trying to change her return flight so she can attend the Kerry v Mayo All-Ireland football semi-final on Sunday.

Most accommodation in Tralee, Co Kerry, for the 2014 Rose festival, which gets under way later this week, has been snapped up.

More than 80 hours of free and affordable entertainment for people of all ages are promised at this year’s Rose of Tralee International Festival, from August 15 to 19.

A man has to be tough in order to survive a week at one of the country’s longest-running festivals and prove he was what it takes before being allowed to chaperone elegant young women.

* ACE at UCC and the Irish Heritage Trust will offer a summer short course at Fota House: ’A History of Gardens’ with Dr Nigel Everett which will run for 6 weeks, starting on June 10.

The Irish relatives of the newly crowned Rose of Tralee popped champagne corks yesterday to celebrate her victory and invited her to visit her ancestral island home again.

It’s a strange sight indeed when a competition in which 32 women bid to represent Ireland on the world stage is almost overtaken by the male host’s comic quips and wardrobe changes.

THE newly crowned Rose of Tralee finds herself torn in four this weekend with a double sporting dilemma that is causing consternation.

BUSINESS people in Tralee are being asked for €75,000 to pay for a street entertainment programme during the town’s money- spinning Rose festival.

THE Kerry footballers and last year’s All-Ireland champions suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Down, at the weekend, but the Rose of Tralee contest could yet provide some consolation for the Kingdom.

TRALEE has welcomed a new bunch of Roses this year, but has also invited back some blooms from the past, including the first ever winner, Alice O’Sullivan.

AN all-out effort is under way in Tralee to ensure the recession doesn’t dampen celebrations at the 50th annual rose festival in August.

A BROKEN bottle is believed to have been used in an assault during which a man sustained serious facial injuries in Tralee early yesterday.

Gardaí are investigating an armed robbery in Co Kerry.

The scent of sweet smelling flowers will fill the air today as thousands of roses go on show to the public.

ORGANISERS of the Rose of Tralee festival last night hailed the event a roaring success with 150,000 visitors flocking to the Kerry town for the fun.

Thousands of people all over the world will be able to watch this year’s Rose of Tralee contest from Co Kerry live on the internet, it was confirmed today.

A NUMBER of disgruntled Rose of Tralee fundraising committees have severed links with the Kerry festival company in a protest over its fiscal restructuring.

PUBLICANS have been warned that they face prosecution for failing to display their prices after the Director of Consumer Affairs expressed disappointment that some are still not complying with the law.

LAST-MINUTE pledges of up to €200,000 from local and national businesses helped rescue the crisis-ridden Rose of Tralee Festival yesterday.