Rose of Tralee festival underway ahead of first live broadcast

This year's Roses of Tralee are applying the finishing touches before the first of the live television broadcasts, which get underway tonight at the Festival Dome.

18 of the 32 Roses will take to the stage to face the cameras.

Tralee Chamber expects this week’s festivities to bring in a massive €7m to the town, with 150,000 people from all parts of the globe visiting the area.

South Australia Rose and Kerry native Louise Thompson is looking forward to support from home and abroad. "To get up and see all the support would be unreal," she said.

"I have everyone in Adelaide and South Australia, as well as everyone in West Kerry backing me."

The Rose of Tralee competition will be broadcast live tonight on RTÉ One from 8pm.