Roses blossom under constant scrutiny as judgement day beckons

JUDGEMENT day is nigh for this summer’s roses, but they’re not wilting under the strain. The judges hover everywhere, even when the girls make their way up the aisle at St John’s church during Sunday mass.

There’s no Gay Byrne on the judging panel anymore, but another familiar face is keeping a keen eye on the blooming beauties. Newsreader Anne Doyle has all the grace of a rose but her job, as one of the six judges, is to put the girls through their paces.

“The girls have a very packed schedule and they are busy all the time. Our job is about constant observation but we won’t be too hard on them,” she said.

The judges have already interviewed the 28-girls but the real scrutiny begins tonight when the first 14 take to the stage to be interviewed by Marty Whelan. British Rose Nicola Norris is the first to appear before the cameras.

“I think one part of me always wanted to be a rose. I never though I’d get this far and I’m really enjoying it,” Ros Fodhla rose Eibhlín Ní Choistealbha, 21, said.

Others think the event might help their future career, like the first ever Luxembourg rose, Yvonne Lintner, 24. She wants to become an ambassador when she finishes college.

“I think an event like this can only help my ambition,” she said.

But roses sometimes need a little help and Limerick’s Sheila English, 24 had to call on the gardaí for assistance during the weekend.

The lovely Limerick contestant lost the key of her case and gardaí had to bring in cutting equipment to the Brandon Hotel to open it. The Rose parade ran smoother and attracted crowds of more than 20,000 before finishing at the Ashe Memorial Hall in Denny Street on Saturday night.

“It’s always a fear that it may rain on our parade but this year it was close to perfect,” festival chief executive Noreen Cassidy said.

Already favourites are emerging with Kerry rose Olivia Buckley priced at 2/1 to win the title this morning. A substantial wager on the Sydney, rose Fiona Tuite has been slashed to 7/2.

There has also been a good few flutters on the Dublin Rose, Claire Roche and New Orleans contestant, Paige MacKenzie Egan, both priced at 7/1.

Meanwhile, Phil Coulter pulled the plug on his concert at the Rose of Tralee festival last night following fears about the structure of the stage there.

Safety experts were called in after the Derry composer and his technical crew became worried the stage could not hold his 20 member orchestra. The free outdoor concert has been postponed until tonight when it will take place on an improved structure.