Rebel Roses dominate the agenda as Rose of Tralee kicks off 

The start of this year’s competition had a distinctly Rebel feel, with a number of contestants having links to Cork

Bagpipe player, San Francisco Rose Maggie Baglin played the iconic hit '500 Miles' for an enthused audience on night one of the Rose of Tralee selections. Picture : Domnick Walsh/Eye Focus

The start of this year’s Rose of Tralee competition had a distinctly Rebel feel, with a number of contestants having links to Cork.

First up for the first of two selection nights at the Kerry Sports Academy at the Munster Technological University (MTU), from where the event was aired live, was Dubai Rose, Ciara O'Sullivan.