Rose Festival escorts report for duty

A man has to be tough in order to survive a week at one of the country’s longest-running festivals and prove he was what it takes before being allowed to chaperone elegant young women.

From building sand castles to swimming with sharks, a group of young men have been tested to their limits at the Rose of Tralee escort boot camp, with 32 rising to all the challenges.

Two from Cork — city man John McLoughlin, a teacher, and Desmond O’Callaghan, a business student from Mallow — have made the grade, along with just one Kerryman, Mark Sheehy, a keen golfer from Tralee.

Almost 200 men, aged between 21 and 30, applied to become escorts at this year’s Rose of Tralee International Festival and, following a detailed interview process, the final 32 were selected to take part in a boot camp weekend in west Kerry.

The escorts spent 48 hours in the Dingle Peninsula, where they participated in a varied programme which included making black pudding in Annascaul, cleaning the vat in Dingle Distillery, and swimming with the sharks at Dingle Oceanworld.

“It was all about helping them prepare for a busy week in Tralee from August 15-19,’’ explained festival communications manager John Drummey.

“The lads had to surf, cycle, carry tyres, fly kites, play tag rugby, and build sand castles in order to prove they will have the stamina to be a Rose escort.’’

On Monday, August 18, one of them will be named as the Newbridge Silverware Escort of the Year for 2014 and walk away with a prize worth €5,000.

Reigning Escort of the Year Jonny McGailey has accompanied current Rose of Tralee Haley O’Sullivan at numerous events from Belarus to New York.

“I’ve made memories and friendships that will be cherished forever,” said Mr McGailey.

The Rose selection programme will be televised by RTÉ and presented by Dáithí Ó Sé over two nights.

* www.roseoftralee.ie