The real threat to the Rose of Tralee isn’t its age — it’s the online abuse
Rose of Tralee 2018 Kirsten Mate Maher with her parents Kwalo and Jacinta Maher on stage in the Festival Dome on August 21, 2018. Picture: Domnick Walsh / Eye Focus LTD
As thousands of people converge on Kerry this weekend in a bid to catch a glimpse of contestants for the Rose of Tralee contest, former Roses will also arrive in the town to relive the memories of their year as contestants.
Among them will be 2018 winner Kirsten Mate Maher, the first African-Irish winner of the contest, who has since gone on to a career in radio.
Kirsten, who represented Waterford in the 2018 competition, will be there to meet up with some other former Rose winners, while official reunions for entrants in the 2016 and 1996 contests will also take place.
The arrival of this year’s 32 contestants in Tralee on Friday after a whirlwind tour of the country comes amid the perennial question of whether the Rose of Tralee competition remains relevant, and why it has remained so popular.
An irked Kirsten cannot understand why the focus on the contest each year revolves around its relevancy.
She questions: “Every year, I feel the same question is being asked and at some point, people have to ask what is bringing these women here every single year, what magic is everyone missing out on?
“People have their opinions on it, on whether it is dated, or this or that, but when you look at the calibre of women that are entering, they are all doing great things.
"Leave them to it. If it improves where you go and improves your public speaking, your confidence within yourself, it can mean nothing only positives.”
From her own perspective, she says being in the Rose of Tralee was an amazing experience, but she acknowledged: “It was tough — it is very hard to be put under public scrutiny.
"Within the Rose of Tralee itself, it is a very safe and welcoming place, nearly like a bubble that you are in.
"But it is when you step outside, the press are there, and with social media, it is getting harder and harder for people to put themselves forward for this kind of thing.”
Kirsten acknowledges that the competition did amazing things for her because it opened doors to places and rooms that she never thought she could be in.
"To get that confidence that yes, you do belong in the room, is great. People want to hear what you have to say — it can be really life-changing and I don’t think I would ever have gone down the route I have gone down now in my line of work in radio and with my own show coming out on TG4, co-hosting with Allie Stack, had I not done the Rose of Tralee.”
That show, , examines how Ireland’s food culture is being reshaped by people from every corner of the world.
Kirsten admits she had some reservations about initially entering the 2018 contest, explaining: “I was the least Irish-looking person in the group, even though I grew up in a very Irish household.”
She adds: “It is hard to sit and see things happen to people who look like me or come from other marginalised communities being treated the way they are being treated. It is very hard to put yourself forward. I think it takes an extra amount of guts to do it when you know it could happen.”
She says she doubts she would feel able to enter the contest now, adding: “I think I would be too scared because of attitudes in general.
"Social media has become more of a cesspool of more negativity than positivity.
She said that while she does like social media and uses it for work, “it is hard, and is this what we have come to in 2026, where I am anxious every year since 2018 about social media, even sitting in the crowd.”
She wants people to “relax, calm down, and be kind” to the entrants onstage.
She says that people can criticise the contest itself if they want, but stresses: “These women who have put themselves forward have probably done more in their 20-odd short years than anyone sitting behind their keyboards.
"If you are typing something that you would not say to that person in a discussion in front of a crowd of people and broadcast it, why would you do it from behind an account? We all want to discuss, but it can be done in a kinder way.”
She continued: “If a woman has decided to put themselves forward to speak about themselves and have an opportunity for the world to see who they really are, why should she be scrutinised so badly that it would affect her mental health? I had things said about me, and I actually didn’t look online at all because I couldn’t bear it.”
She admits that if a 20-year-old her saw what was happening, she doesn’t know if she would be able to do it.
"You see a lot that it is not diverse enough. Those [diverse] women are hiding. They are hiding because of the public scrutiny that all of those other brave women are being put under. Why would they want to put themselves forward?
“If you really want to see Roses from different communities, then make it an open and safe place for them. Right now, it’s not.”
For the local economy, the focus is much more on business than on who is going to win this year’s contest.
The buzz the influx of visitors will bring to the streets between now and the crowning of this year’s Rose of Tralee on Tuesday night is expected to be the busiest trading period of the year for the locality.
According to Tralee Chamber, accommodation around the area is almost at full occupancy this weekend. The organisation’s chief executive, Colette O’Connor, said the timing of the week is particularly important for businesses.
“Tralee is heading into the busiest week of the year after a very strong summer. Accommodation is at over 90% capacity going into the weekend, and businesses are preparing for significant footfall across the town.
“This is one of the most important trading periods in Tralee’s annual calendar, coming just ahead of the quieter autumn and winter months. A week like this has real value in sustaining businesses, employment, and activity beyond the peak summer season.”
The Chamber says that an enormous contribution to the success of the bonanza is the voluntary Féile Thrá Lí committee, which works throughout the year to deliver the full programme of entertainment taking place on the streets of Tralee, including the parades, live music, family entertainment, and activities across the town centre.
Ms O’Connor said the fact that the entire street programme remains free is a significant part of its value, continuing: “Féile Thrá Lí deserves enormous credit for everything that takes place on the streets throughout the week. The committee works year-round to deliver a programme that is entirely free to the public.
“There is no festival ticket or cover charge. Families can come into the county town and enjoy parades, live music, and entertainment on a scale and of a quality that very few festivals continue to provide without an admission cost.
“That accessibility is hugely important. It brings people onto our streets, encourages them to spend time in the town, and directly supports cafés, restaurants, pubs, hotels, retailers, and businesses throughout Tralee.”
Last year’s festival attracted the biggest attendance in almost two decades, and it is hoped that the momentum can continue this year, particularly given the dry spell of weather.
The Chamber says that the festival brings “extraordinary reach and attention to the town”, and placing “Tralee and Kerry firmly in the national and international spotlight”.
Ms O’Connor elaborated: “The value of this week extends well beyond Tralee. It puts Kerry in front of national and international audiences, brings visitors into the county, and gives people another opportunity to experience everything Kerry has to offer.
“A vibrant county town strengthens the wider region. Visitors coming to Tralee are also moving throughout Kerry, staying in our accommodation, eating in our restaurants, visiting attractions, and supporting businesses across the county.
“Kerry has always understood hospitality and welcome, and this week is a fantastic expression of that. It showcases a county that knows how to host major events while keeping community, business, and visitor experience at the heart of them.”
Tralee Chamber said that the week demonstrates the wider value of major events in supporting the regional economy, extending the season and reinforcing Kerry’s reputation as one of Ireland’s leading visitor destinations.
“Behind the crowds and the entertainment is an enormous amount of work throughout the year,” Ms O’Connor added.
“That work translates into real value for businesses, for Tralee and for the wider county, and helps make this one of the most important and distinctive weeks in Kerry’s annual calendar.”
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