Radiant Roses blossom in festival limelight

THE Rose of Tralee festival might be unable to make a profit these days but the oldest show in town is still producing dozens of floral wannabes.

After 45 years on the road you would think that a ready supply of women who are fascinated by Tralee, and always dreamed of becoming a Rose, would be impossible to find.

After all, vital resources such as oil and gas have diminished hugely since the first Roses told the world about their dreams and ambitions in 1959.

But it seems there are still enough women enchanted by the TV show in the tent to ensure the contest has a future, despite what the tourism experts claim.

Someone with a suspicious mind might even speculate that there’s a secret Rose garden already creating the next generation of lovely girls.

This year’s 26 Roses met their escorts in the festival dome yesterday evening and they belted out the lyrics of Simply the Best to greet the enthusiastic lads.

The escorts had their own little ditty to impress the bevy of beauties who all wore pink for this nervous first meeting.

Just like giddy young lambs the lads waited anxiously before the girls finally arrived and then they burst into a raucous version of Be My Girl.

The singing and the dancing routine probably wasn’t enough though to prompt Louis Walsh to turn up in Tralee this year.

Indeed it was more akin to a group of young lads having a laugh at a teenage disco while the girls wriggled and danced in what an uninitiated onlooker might believe was an ancient mating ritual.

But this is all regular fare in Tralee just like the tian of salmon and fillet of beef that was enjoyed by some 1,200 guests at the 100 a plate International Rose Ball last night.

The five-day festival runs until Tuesday night when one lucky contestant will be crowned with a beautiful Newbridge silver tiara under the watchful eye of rookie TV host Ryan Tubridy.

Many of the contestants are just happy to be in Tralee and the notion of winning the competition is something they’ve never thought about.

“I’m looking forward to the experience rather than any one event. I think that you have to come to Tralee to understand what this festival means to the people,” bubbly Texan rose Stephanie Farmer, 22, said.

Limerick contestant Petula Martyn, 22, also said that she’s looking forward to the week after overcoming stiff competition in four qualifying heats before Tralee.

“My mother and myself always watched the festival and it’s great to be a Rose today,” the media graduate from Corbally in Limerick city said.

The biggest mover in the betting market yesterday was Boston Rose Gráinne Lanigan, 22, who has gone from 50/1 to 16/1 in the last two days.