A bit of Bear Grylls and Bond for escorts

IT’S not often you hear the words Bear Grylls, James Bond and metro-sexual in the same sentence, but then again being an escort at the Rose of Tralee is no regular event.

Despite the stereotypical image of a Rose escort involving lessons in etiquette, mammy’s boy manners and the finer art of door-opening, this year’s self-styled men in black (tuxedos) insist the popular picture is only part of the reality.

While the competition’s 32 escorts have been well-drilled in how to act like a gentleman, they are adamant the traditional view of their involvement should be left in the distant past.

A hard to forget tongue-lashing from an army sergeant, being thrown down steep hills in a giant plastic ‘zorb’ ball, and getting dunked in freezing water during a gruelling boot camp ordeal should leave no one in any doubt of that.

“It was all to toughen them up a little bit and to make them responsible for looking after anything that might happen,” explained 27-year-old escort co-ordinator Ciaran O Connell.

“They had to set their own tents, make their own campfires, and, yes, learn how to hold a door open. It’s really taking a Bear Grylls situation into a James Bond situation. And, dare I say it, even a bit metro-sexual at times.

“The whole image that comes with being an escort is an old wives’ tale really. We’re here to do a job, 9am to 5pm or 9am until whatever hour in the morning, so we’re always focused on making sure our Rose is number one in our minds.

“There’s a beer waiting for the escort when the Rose goes to bed, but that side of things is limited because we have a role to play and don’t want to let the festival down. And there’s even been a bit of romance in the past,” he said.

As part of the event almost 600 people applied to become escorts, with this year’s application process ensuring there were 32 escorts, one from each county.

Among those who survived the whittling down of applicants and occasionally traumatising training was Tipperary’s Odhran Lloyd.

The 29-year-old Thurles native, who is paired with New York Rose Katie Dunleavy, said his decision to apply for role was based on memories of coming to the festival as a child.

This year’s Newbridge Silverware Escort of the Year is Robbie Costelloe, from Tralee. He is escorting Derry Rose Bronagh McAleese.

Last year’s escort of the year, Ben Tighe, 30, from Booterstown in Meath, signed up to the event again, admitting he was brainwashed by his seven sisters who watched the show as kids, a remote control battle he accepts he was “never going to win”.

But after first taking part in the festival in 2008, the three-time escort doesn’t regret the defeat.

“You come down at first with some expectations, they are lived up to, but the stuff you don’t see means it becomes the best week of your life. It’s a finishing school really.

“Even after the festival you could be walking in Blanchardstown shopping centre or somewhere with a girl, a lady, and then suddenly,” Ben pauses dramatically to jut his arm out to the side, “your arm will come out to guide them while they walk without thinking about it.

“It’s completely different to what you might think, but it really does give you life lessons that everyone should learn.”

A well-dressed, tuxedo-wearing, metro-sexual Bear Grylls couldn’t have put it better if he tried.