Dáithí comes up smelling of Roses as festival takes off
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.
Speaking to the Irish Examiner, London Rose Grace Kenny said she was looking forward to returning to live TV — although she hopes not to get as up close and personal with presenters this time around.
“In 2010, I was part of The Celtic Coleens on Britain’s Got Talent, which was a glow in the dark, all-girl Irish dance group.
“We got to meet everyone, including Simon Cowell. I actually had my microphone pack chained to his at one stage, so that’s my claim to fame — I was chained to Simon Cowell,” she said.
Leitrim Rose Edwina Guckian also hit the small screens in 2010, on The All Ireland Talent Show.
The sean nós dancer said she was just as memorable to Rose of Tralee host Ó Sé — who mentored her on the programme — as Ms Kenny was to the pop mogul, although thankfully not for any chain-related reasons.
“Dáithí’s on the ball, so I had no need to remind him about the connection.
“He was really excellent for us on the show in 2010, really good and supportive, and he’s just like that again which is great for all of us.”
Among the other picks of this year’s rose bunch are three girls from Cork — including those representing Perth, Sydney, and the rebel county itself.
In what is believed to be a first for the festival, Washington DC Rose, Lauren DeBueriis, is also competing this year.
While she grew up in an Italian-American family, Ms DeBueriss’s connection to Ireland stems from her Irish-American birth parents — from whom she was adopted.
In an unexpected twist, the Dublin Airport launch of the festival was also momentarily interrupted by the arrival home of the Dwarf Sports Association of Ireland team.
The athletes — who were returning with a 46-medal haul from the World Dwarf Games in Michigan, US — seemed just as surprised by the unplanned welcome as they happily posed for pictures with the roses.
But, for some photographers at least, there were far more pressing pictures than that on their minds.
Turning his attention to the crowd of roses surrounding show host Ó Sé — who is sporting “Bomber Liston” inspired facial hair — one was heard to quip: “So, what did you make of the one with the beard?”.
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