Dáithí comes up smelling of Roses as festival takes off

The 54th version of the popular Rose of Tralee festival kicked off yesterday amid a flurry of the usual mix of the beautiful, the brilliant, and the borderline bizarre.

In front of family members and bemused tourists, the week-long run-in before the live TV shows next Monday and Tuesday took off in style during a launch at Dublin Airport.

While Dáithí Ó Sé continued his habit of stealing the show, the 32 contestants bidding to follow in the stiletto heel-steps of last year’s winner Nicola McEvoy were just as happy for their moment in the spotlight.