Tending the Roses: Escorts gear up for five days of envious looks

Wesley Morrissey

Then, on the night before the game, the manager announces the team and gives you his motivating speech.

He can be harsh, but the grilling we receive from our manager before any big hurling match is nothing compared to the grilling (sorry, “briefing session”) that we received yesterday before we met our Roses.

Our role as an escort has begun. It was intense and it was to the point but from the moment the 30 escorts met for the first time in Baileys Corner on the Thursday night, I knew I was dealing with a crowd of lads who obviously knew how to treat a lady like a queen, but also knew how to let their hair down and enjoy themselves.

Some guys were nervous and you could see the majority of them gathering around Ollie Lawlor and Dave Gibson who were escorts last year and who had a few helpful tips for the new guys this year.

Because we are up early yesterday morning to be briefed and to finally meet our roses, most escorts went to bed early on the Thursday night with the exception of Frankie Dolan and a few more who hit the dance floor to strut their stuff and prove what good dancers they are.

We met our Roses for the first time yesterday.

This year I am delighted to be escorting the Kildare Rose. Her name is Gillian Doyle and she is a very bubbly girl with similar interests to myself so I am really looking forward to escorting her this week.

The wait is finally over and after a brief “getting to know each other session”, we headed off to put on our tuxedos and prepare ourselves for the Rose Gala Ball.

Walking through Tralee town on the way to the ball really gets you going for the occasion; it’s obvious to all that you’re escorts.

The festival still holds that kind of magic of kids pointing, mammies cooing and lads jeering. There is a great buzz around Tralee, the place is alive with tourists, locals, journalists and celebrities.

Each night the Roses must leave the functions between midnight and 1am.

An announcement alluding the same spurs us into action. Following our instructions from earlier, you find your Rose and line up (no matter what she is doing) and off you go back to the Brandon Hotel across the road to bid goodnight.

This is when our official duties end and the night really kicks-off for the escorts.

The Rose of Tralee badge comes off, the bow-tie is discarded and we all head straight for the bar back in the Dome.

With your Rose safely tucked-up in bed, we are free to enjoy the rest of the night’s activities.

After the ball its back to the escorts’ apartments. This not a festival, it’s a stamina test.