Panel of judges: Tough call

WHILE there are no Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh or Cheryl Tweedy wannabes on the Rose of Tralee panel, the hopefuls competing for the coveted crown will still have a touch of X-Factor style nerves as they attempt to impress judges.

Over the next two nights, all 32 roses will be attempting to dance, sing, joke and, yes, even beg the public into supporting their bid for success.

The queen-makers of this year’s Rose of Tralee festival include Mary Kennedy, who has been a major name in Irish broadcasting since the mid-80s.

Among her career high-points have been hosting the 1995 Eurovision Song Contest and the RTÉ regional news programme Nationwide.

Roisín Egenton, who won the Rose of Tralee while representing New York 10 years ago, will also be taking a closer look at this year’s contestants –

Alongside the pair will be chairman Mike Edgeworth – the chief executive of The Pilot Training College, one of the largest of its kind in Europe – and Galway-born head of the Carlton Hotel Group, Michael Kearney.

Taking up the final seat in the five-person panel will be chairman of Holiday Tralee, Padraig McGillicuddy, ensuring the Kingdom remains at the centre of proceedings.