O'Donoghue backs niece in Rose of Tralee

Tourism Minister John O’Donoghue is to attend the Rose of Tralee international festival today where his niece is among 30 women vying for the title.

Mr O’Donoghue will be travelling to the Co Kerry town for the 47th festival as the judges will be deciding on which Rose should be awarded the prestigious crown.

His niece, Catriona Dwane, 25, a law graduate from Limerick, will be competing against Roses from all over the country and further afield including Dubai, New Zealand, Australia and the United States.

Presenter Ray D’Arcy, who took over the role from RTE’s Ryan Tubridy, will be interviewing many of the Roses in the Festival Dome in Tralee this evening as the judges struggle to make their final selection.

Ted Keane, one of the festival organisers, has said this year’s festival has proved to be one of the biggest ever.

He said the Roses have been fulfilling a hectic schedule of visiting nursing homes, hospitals and attending official events in the run up to the final interviews in the Festival Dome.

As well as attending dozens of events, Mr Keane said the Roses have been interviewed individually and in groups by the judging panel over the last few days.

Bookmakers Boylesports said the betting odds on the Roses were certain to change as the competition heightened.

Mayo Rose Aoibhinn O’Sullivan has been emerging as a clear favourite but the 22-year-old Rose has been facing some stiff competition from Perth Rose, Fiona Stokes, and Blathnaid O’Donoghue from Clare.