Rose festival rescued by last-minute donations

LAST-MINUTE pledges of up to €200,000 from local and national businesses helped rescue the crisis-ridden Rose of Tralee Festival yesterday.

A relieved festival chief executive Siobhán Hanley said there would, after all, be a festival this year and they hope to have major corporate sponsors.

However, the festival, €900,000 in debt, must first settle with creditors, who are being offered 30% of what they are owed.