Rose of Tralee: Roses set for the big stage as festival goes live
The first of two televised Rose of Tralee shows will take place in the Dome tonight, and mischievous host Dáithí O Sé has hinted there are some surprises waiting in the wings.
“We’ve some great party pieces, we’ve a few stunts as well, and we’ve some great stories,” he teased.
Every year, upwards of half a million people tune in to watch the live shows. Last year, an average of 694,000 watched the final with a further 100,000 watching on the RTÉ Player.
As ever, the audience will be treated to two nights of fun and frolics and will get to meet the 32 lovely ladies who have made it to the final.
Among them is 18-year-old Megan Swart, the youngest contestant to have ever made the finals. The Wicklow Rose has just received her Leaving Certificate results and plans to study international hospitality management at Dublin Institute of Technology.
Cork Rose Aoife Murphy, 25, will also be introduced, and has been mysteriously vague about her party piece. “I’ve been told it’s never been done before in the Dome,” was all she could say. “I’m trying not to think about the live show too much.”
Abu Dhabi Rose Deirdre Ward, originally from Donegal, said so far the festival has been “phenomenal”, while Sydney Rose Ciara Rafferty said she was “excited but nervous” about the Dome.
All the Roses have had a whirlwind of a weekend. After the magic and madness of the Rose ball, the girls had a jam-packed day on Saturday, touring Tralee and signing autographs for children. The evening saw the annual parade wind through the town, with some 500 entertainers putting on a show for more than 30,000 supporters.
Aloha #roseoftralee Parade 😊🌹 pic.twitter.com/3DVFsegxa6
— Rose of Tralee (@RoseofTralee_) August 16, 2015
The parade was led by current Rose of Tralee Maria Walsh, who said handing over her crown would be “bittersweet”. On Friday the Mayo woman completed her Trek2Tralee in which she ran and cycled 242km from her home town of Shrule to the town in aid of Barretstown, Development Perspectives, and Donal Walsh’s Live Life, raising almost €5,000.
Well done #roseoftralee Maria on your #Trek2Tralee. You are simply amazing 🌹😊 pic.twitter.com/puujFdB4d1
— Rose of Tralee (@RoseofTralee_) August 14, 2015
Supporting a great cause @Barretstown for our #Trek2Tralee 242k Donate now http://t.co/MbVscD9Oo8 pic.twitter.com/gPR7lbHn6H
— Trek2tralee (@trek2tralee) August 15, 2015
Sunday was a bit of a wash out as poor conditions resulted in the cancellation of the much-anticipated air show. The weather cleared up later on, however, meaning Maria could complete her tandem skydive, dropping into Tralee Town Park after she was presented with a red rose at 10,000 feet.
The first Rose of Tralee live show airs tonight at 8pm on RTÉ One, RTÉ Player and RTÉ Player International.
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