Tralee gears up as Roses begin final preparations

TRALEE town is a hive of activity this morning as the 32 women competing to become the area’s 2010 Rose begin their final preparations before the first of two live television shows tonight.

As local businesses keep counting the huge cash injection from the estimated 100,000 visitors to the Kerry festival, a crowd expected to bring in between €6 million and €7m to the local economy, organisers are busily making last minute changes to ensure the 52nd Rose of Tralee contest goes off without a hitch.

Since arriving in Tralee on Friday the Roses have been whisked away to the Rose Ball, brought through the town as part of a colourful parade watched by 15,000 people, serenaded by escorts with varying degrees of musical talent and taken on a visit to the LE Aisling Irish naval vessel located a short distance away from festival headquarters.