Flower power: Roses support Daisychain

THIRTY elegant Roses from as far as away as Dubai and the USA donned their best dresses last night in support of a charity which helps families with physical and intellectual disabilities.

The young ladies, who will compete for the Rose of Tralee title on August 21 and 22, appeared at a function in the Clarion Hotel in Cork to highlight the work of the Daisychain Project.

The charity, which was founded a year ago by Choice Hotel’s chief executive, Frankie Whelehan, last year offered the parents of such children 1,000 free hotel stays so they can take a well-earned break from their caring duties.

Joanne O’Callaghan, project coordinator for Daisychain said she was delighted that the Rose of Tralee contestants could help them highlight the charity. Several of them were introduced to families who have already benefited from the scheme.

Ms O’Callaghan added that The Time For You Programme would be rolled out again in September and that it would again offer families free stays at Choice Hotels from October to next April.

The festival itself gets under way next Sunday night and comprises of five days of street entertainment, with parades, theatre, live music, festivities and fireworks, plus live concerts and a fashion show in the Festival Dome.

The week culminates in the Rose of Tralee Selection, broadcast live on television over two nights and hosted by Ray D’Arcy to an audience of over 2,000 in the Dome and nearly a million watching on TV.