Dáithí’s shoes dazzle Roses

Swinging camogie sticks and threats of Michael Flatley-inspired "dance-offs".

The now obligatory attempt by Dáithí Ó Sé to steal the limelight, this time with an eye-blinding if not exactly eye-catching pair of shoes.

And a small group of bemused tourists quietly wondering what on earth it’s all about.

This year’s Rose of Tralee festival kicked off in its now traditional, eclectic style at Dublin Airport yesterday, with the usual mix of the best and most bizarre of Irish life on display.

As part of the annual August festival, a week-long tour of the country culminating in two live TV shows next Monday and Tuesday night began in the capital, as the 2014 bunch of roses touched down on their ancestral home.

The 32-strong group, one of whom will ultimately take over from 2013 winner, Haley O’Sullivan, in just seven days time, includes Cork’s three-time senior camogie All-Ireland winning captain, Anna Geary.

A cousin of 2000 Limerick rose, Olive Geary, the hugely successful GAA star and RTÉ pundit helped the Rebel county past Offaly on Saturday to set up a crunch semi-final with Wexford just days after the Rose of Tralee finale.

However, despite concerns the Kerry festival might take away from her training in Cork’s all-conquering side’s latest stab at success, she admitted there “might be one or two sneaky gym sessions” and a “changing of shoes for runners” amid rose responsibilities.

The quick wardrobe switch is something Ó Sé appears to already be taking to heart, with the host changing costume a number of times yesterday as he posed for photos.

Wearing what can only be described as “dazzling” shoes, the presenter perhaps unexpectedly said this year’s event will be just as eye-catching as any other in his five years at the helm — a period which has included on-air proposals, a bizarre attempt to milk a cow on stage and more references to “hake” than you can shake a giant fish at.

“If you don’t up your game from last year people will knock it.

“There won’t be a live proposal this year, I don’t think, but what really makes it easy is that all the roses are just up for fun.”

Among those likely to be those “up for fun” will be Dublin’s Róisín Lyons and Nottingham’s Claire Regan, whose separate performances with Michael Flatley’s Riverdance and Lord of the Dance have sparked rumours of a Rose of Tralee live TV dance-off.

With a rapping auditor also on the cards, it may not be to everyone’s taste, but this year’s instalment of the annual festival looks set to continue with its own eclectic style of fun.