Rose of Tralee is entertaining TV viewing

Like tens of thousands of others I have grown very weary of television as an entertainment medium and so have those who have the resources to spend enormous sums on advertising. But I must say that the 2013 Rose of Tralee contest was a most engaging and entertaining television spectacle.

It was interesting that the two broadcasts also attracted the advertisers of top-flight products and services. Well done RTÉ, and well done Kerry.

Each of the 32 contestants demonstrated warmth, sophistication, elegance, flair for creativity, self-assurance, and charm that not merely projected each of them so positively into the nation’s homes, but it was an excellent celebration of the powerful contribution of young, educated Irish people across the world. There might only be one tiara at the end of the Rose contest but each of these contestants is an undisputed winner in her own right.

The Rose of Tralee contest is carefully conceived and thoughtfully organised. It demonstrates how cohesively different elements of a clever Kerry diaspora work so effectively with each other, showcased by a very talented Kerry compere.

These broadcasts, which generated real excitement and genuine enjoyment, were such a change from the awful synthetic fare of so-called reality television, that is routinely presented by bored, grossly overpaid broadcasters masquerading as ‘stars’ and ‘celebrities’ with the shallowest of credentials and talent.

Myles Duffy

Glenageary

Co Dublin