Rose of Tralee, RIP 1959-2004?

THE cash-strapped Rose of Tralee Festival looks certain to go into liquidation unless €250,000 can be raised by the weekend to rescue the event.

Festival chief executive Siobhán Hanley yesterday said the future of the festival depended on the financial support of five organisations, which were each being asked to commit €50,000. The pageant has debts of €900,000.

Tralee Town Council, which is itself in financial crisis and under threat of dissolution; Shannon Development; Tralee and Kerry publicans; Tralee Chamber of Commerce and Holidays Tralee were represented at a crunch meeting in Tralee earlier this week. However, none of the organisations were prepared to make financial commitments.