Red carpet rolled out as Roses sashay into town

THE contestants battling to be this year’s Rose of Tralee arrived to a heroine’s reception in the Kerry town yesterday, knowing the crown is all to play for.

Cheered on by friends and family from Irish communities across the globe, the 31 young women alighted from their coach and onto the red carpet in true Oscar style.

To a jazz version of the Rose of Tralee ballad the Roses arrived at the town’s new Fels Point Hotel and were besieged by autograph hunters and photographers.

In glamorous evening wear they greeted the reigning Rose of Tralee, 24-year-old Kathryn Feeney from Queensland, Australia, before a rehearsal ahead of last night’s Rose Ball, the contest’s premier social occasion.

When they wake up today, however, they will have to be at their best, in mind and body, as they will be scrutinised all weekend by the five-strong judging panel, and will undergo personal interviews.

Already punters across the world seemed to have made up their mind about the winner: Irish dancer Lisa Marie Berry, the Wicklow Rose, who was yesterday the 5-1 favourite to win at Paddy Power’s.

Meanwhile, Munster bookies Cashman’s have the 20-year-old Wicklow student as joint favourite at 6-1 with the Liverpool Rose, a 24-year-old teacher. London Rose Katie Crean, aged 21, is at 7-1 with Cashman’s and Paddy Power’s, with heavy betting seeing her odds shorten from the 14-1 price earlier in the week.

The Kerry Rose, as ever, has attracted strong local and national backing support with this year’s Kingdom contestant Laura Costelloe, 22, at 8-1 down from 25-1.

Yesterday, Cashman’s boss Paul Cashman said bets had been coming in from across the world for the contest. All will be revealed on Tuesday night when Rose of Tralee host Ray D’Arcy opens the gold envelope to reveal the winner.