Rose escorts a good mix
Sadly, while the Rose of Tralee escorts score highly on just about every other admirable quality, they tend to veer more towards the flat-footed than the Flatley-footed when it comes to their dance-floor moves.
“I always have to get them together for a few lessons before the festival,” said escort co-ordinator Colm Croffy.
“The only year I didn’t, they looked like gardeners moving freshly painted wheelbarrows around the dance-floor.”
Colm knows what he’s talking about. A former escort himself, he had such an enjoyable time accompanying the New Orleans Rose in the 1999 contest that he’s been organising the selection and training of escorts ever since.
His latest batch were unveiled in Croke Park yesterday and Colm describes them as representing a healthy mix of interests and attributes.
“We don’t want them all to be solicitors or bankers or jockstraps. We have opera buffs, trad music fans, rugby players, GAA players — a whole variety of types.”
One thing they must have in common, however, is a delicate balance of confidence and modesty.
“We’re looking for guys who, even though the spotlight will be on them, understand that it is not for them. She is the film star and he is only the agent.”
The chosen 32 out of the original 220 who expressed an interest, survived extensive interviews with panels headed by veteran stylist Celia Holman Lee and model Katy French.
So what drives a would-be escort to put himself through it all?
“It’s a week of a lifetime. You get to be on the television and see the stars and attend all the festival events. It’s just good fun.”
Fun may not be had in unlimited quantities, however. “There is a code of conduct — it won’t do them or their sponsors any good if they’re found naked, drunk and disorderly on the street at three in the morning.”
This year’s festival runs from August 17-21 and has 31 Roses contesting the crown. The 32nd escort gets to accompany reigning Rose Kathryn Feeney for her last week as holder of the title.
* www.roseoftralee.ie
