Roses bowled over by schoolchildren’s welcome

THE roses held by 28 Co Carlow schoolchildren weren’t the only things wilting in the summer sunshine yesterday afternoon.

The contestants were already finding it hard to keep up with the pace - as were the children from Borris’ Sacred Heart National School, who stood in line, anxiously awaiting their arrival to their village.

Four-year-old Yuan O’Neill, who arrived from China just two years ago to live with her new family, stood perfectly still, staring at her big yellow rose.

All around her, other children were already pulling at the petals, bored and anxious for the other Roses to arrive. Several had pulled the heads off altogether and a desperate search was on to find replacements.

The Limerick Rose was the first to emerge from the luxury coach, followed by the entourage. After the pleasantries, the ladies were anxious to get inside and enjoy the fresh tomato soup, scones and tea that Borris publican John Joyce and his staff had prepared.

Mr Joyce, spared no effort as he welcomed the 28 contestants into his traditional pub in the centre of the village.

The local Comhaltas were on hand to provide music, and neighbours and friends crammed into the open streets. “It’s been amazing, absolutely amazing and we’re only a day on the road,” New York Rose Shireen Russell said as she stepped off the bus. “The kids in particularly are fantastic. They go to so much work everywhere we go. I’m exhausted already - most of us are. We’ve really got to learn how to pace ourselves. The pace has been hectic,” she said.

Washington Rose Joy Peck was completely bowled over by the Carlow welcome. “I can’t believe the crowds everywhere we go. It’s been so great so far.”

The 25-year-old said her family left the south east during the Famine and settled in Washington after working as cowboys on many of the great US plains. She’s not looking for an Irish cowboy, but is bound to meet a few as the festival gets underway in Tralee.

Proudest of all yesterday had to be local lads Damien Nolan and Paul Kiernan. They were chosen to hold the welcoming banner for the Roses. While the rest of the boys around stood back, some of the older ones wolf whistling, the duo were spoken to by the Roses.

And little Gráinne Hanafin,2, tried to give the Roses a sample of what was ahead - the strawberry blonde was decked out in her Kerry jersey and had learned a special wave for the ladies for the day.