It was a Tuesday evening family dinner chat. Then someone mentioned the Rose of Tralee ‘beauty pageant’, which was on TV that night. It’s not traditionally quite as exciting as The Late Late Toy Show, but it is one of those occasions in the Irish calendar when parents meekly accept that children can stay up late to watch it.

Limerick Rose Sinéad Flanagan claimed it was the Treaty County's year after success in hurling, Love Island and now the Rose of Tralee.

Sixty years on, and dozens of roses, frocks and party pieces later, the Rose of Tralee International Festival has returned to the Kingdom writes Jess Casey. Love it or loathe it, the annual festival has seen both its ups and downs through its long history, including a televised proposal, financial woes, a gatecrashing priest and a potential boycott.

It's that time of year again.

It’s a unique time capsule that gives us a snapshot of women’s history through fashion.

Entrants to this year’s Rose of Tralee have been subjected to “malicious online threats” due to the event’s association with dog racing, according to the Irish Greyhound Board which has pulled its sponsorship of the festival.

The Irish Greyhound Board has ended its relationships with the Rose Of Tralee Festival after alleged threats against competitors.

Killarney: The Killarney St Patrick’s Day parade promises to be ‘The Greatest Show’ with a showstopping circus theme. The parade, which starts at 2pm, is part of a now week-long festival. Landmarks such as Ross Castle glimpsed from Flesk Bridge and St Mary’s Cathedral will turn green for several days.

The Rose of Tralee jamboree is a bit like the Eurovision Song Contest — derided by many as an outmoded, tiresome, irrelevant and laughable spectacle but it remains an entertaining annual TV extravaganza that few viewers would miss.

One Rose of Tralee contestant is taking inspiration from her farming background to survive the hectic festival schedule which starts today.

Yup, zero, zip, zilch, nil, nada.

Tralee has been named as one of more than 20 towns and cities that can apply for recognition as a Gaeltacht service town, under the Gaeltacht Act, 2012.

The Rose of Tralee is not a replica of the Father Ted “lovely girls” competition, but is “an excellent and rare opportunity for women to highlight their achievements”, a female professor has said.

The rain stopped just in time for Tralee’s Rose Parade on Saturday, but last night the focus in The Dome was on fashion, before the spotlight falls firmly back on the first 18 finalists later this evening.

The remaining ladies through to the RTÉ selection nights will be announced over the weekend.

Ryle Dwyer looks back at the origins of the Rose of Tralee festival and how it captured the public imagination right from the beginning

Bill Linnane hails the wonders and the blunders of the inimitable Kerry show

Maria Walsh in conversation with Hilary Fennell

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.

Fáilte Ireland grant aid for the Rose of Tralee International Festival is being halved in favour of promoting off-peak tourism events.

Good morning. Here’s everything you need to know before you start your day.

In a Facebook post, Fainche McCormack alleged that “cameras intrusively followed us all week and asked inappropriate probing questions” with one girl being asked what colour underwear she was wearing right before she went on stage.

Health Minister Simon Harris has said a citizen’s assembly is still the way forward on the abortion debate, even as a call to repeal the Eighth Amendment was made during a live broadcast of the Rose of Tralee competition.

MATT O’CONNOR’s ridiculous stunt during the Rose of Tralee on Monday night was arguably a peaceful protest. The audience did not know initially whether it was part of an act.

The founder of Fathers4Justice says his decision to run on the stage during the Rose of Tralee TV selection was justified.

“I think it’s time to give women a say over their reproductive rights.”

Meanwhile in the world of showbiz …

Kerry County Council has been slammed for undertaking work at a holy well, a recorded monument, which some locals believe may be the site of the original crystal fountain associated with the Rose of Tralee.

A new selection process, twice as many Roses, an extra night on television, and a longer festival are all reasons why this year’s Rose of Tralee will be the best yet, according to host Dáithí Ó Sé and reigning rose Elysha Brennan.

Joe Brolly has hit back strongly at GAA President Aogán Ó Fearghail’s criticisms of The Sunday Game, saying the association wants “Rose of Tralee coverage”.

On this day 56 years ago, the very first Rose of Tralee, Alice O’Sullivan, was crowned.

When the Rose of Tralee International Festival was launched in 1959, nobody realised how long it would run for or how much it would mean to so many people, the first ever Rose has said.

First International Women’s Business Conference at Rose event

Maria Walsh made history yesterday, becoming the first ever Rose of Tralee to parachute into the annual festival.

AUGUST is the beginning of the middle age of summer.