Rose of Tralee – Celebrating community

The Rose of Tralee pageant has become something of an Irish institution. Tonight the 50th Rose of Tralee will be chosen in a pageant whose popularity has sometimes baffled and often defied explanation in the media.

There are perennial charges that the pageant is sexist and embarrassing, of that it celebrates mediocrity, but the programme retains international appeal.

Gay Byrne, who was largely responsible for the early popularity of the programme, always maintained that its appeal was because the contestants could be anybody’s daughter, sister or niece. They are all young women who may have enormous potential, but few could yet be classified as real achievers.