Clodagh Finn: Tralee is so much more than its postponed Rose festival

A replica of the Tralee Famine ship the Jeanie Johnston was built in 2002 and could replenish some of the town's lost tourism revenue if returned for the year. Picture: Domnick Walsh

Here is a controversial,  perhaps  unworkable suggestion, but let’s give it a whirl: Could the Jeanie Johnston, the tall ship and famine museum on Dublin’s docks,  return to its native Tralee for one  week to help the town navigate the loss of this year’s international Rose of Tralee festival?

Like so many other towns, Tralee is feeling the sting of coronavirus social distancing and cancellation of events that draw large attendances. For the first time in its 61-year history, the festival has been postponed, until 2021. It’s too late to think about running the festival indoors, but it’s not too late to shift the focus to the town.