Congratulations to Tara Talbot from Queensland, our new Rose of Tralee 2011. She was the bookies favourite and you can see why; attractive and intelligent, and with a good singing voice to boot, a natural winner who’ll wear the crown beautifully.

Tara TalbotQueensland

Dáithí Ó Sé is in the ‘hot [...]]]> On the night update..!

Congratulations to Tara Talbot from Queensland, our new Rose of Tralee 2011. She was the bookies favourite and you can see why; attractive and intelligent, and with a good singing voice to boot, a natural winner who’ll wear the crown beautifully.

Tara Talbot
Queensland

Dáithí Ó Sé is in the ‘hot seat’ again this year as he hosts the TV finale for 2011, but no prob we’re sure he’s had plenty of tips from his bride to be, the 2008 New Jersey Rose Rita Talty (congratulations to you both sir!)

The festival has surged in popularity in recent years, and in 2010 RTE viewing peaked at over one million and averaged 916,300 – the highest in more than a decade. That popularity is also reflected by what must be an avalanche of visitors to the official website, slower tonight as it tries to keep up with a huge demand, so here’s the girls for 2011…

Caitlin McNeil Big Apple

Moira Sullivan Boston & New England

Siobhan Carroll Chicago

Kathryn Brennan Cork

Niamh McTague Derby

Catherine Feeney Derry

Maria McCole Donegal

Nicole Curren Down

Gráinne Boyle Dubai

Siobhéal Nic Eochaidh Dublin

Tara Keigher Edmonton

Saoirse Fitzgerald Germany

Síle Ní Dheargain Kerry

Sinead Fennell Laois

Caroline Marley London

Erin Loughran New York

Ailbhe Ryan New Zealand

Katherine Scott Ottawa

Melanie Gore Perth

Beth Keeley Philadelphia

Tara Talbot Queensland

Roisin Guihen Roscommon

Sheila Ashtiani San Francisco

Susan Gellard South Australia

Molly O'Keefe Southern California

Niamh O'Connell Sunderland

Caroline Harney Sydney

Danielle Ybarra Texas

Noirin Ryan Tipperary

Aileen Doyle Toronto

Dorothy Henggeler Washington DC

Mary Kehoe Wexford

The Rose of Tralee on Facebook

The Rose will be crowned tomorrow evening, August 23rd, and as usual we remain unbiased – wouldn’t be too upset though if it turns out to be Corks year this year!

Turn on the gramaphone and away you go…!

The pale moon was rising above the green mountains, The sun was declining beneath the blue sea, When I strayed with my love by the pure crystal fountain, That stands in the beautiful Vale of Tralee.

She was lovely and fair as [...]]]> Fancy a singalong?

Turn on the gramaphone and away you go…!

The pale moon was rising above the green mountains,
The sun was declining beneath the blue sea,
When I strayed with my love by the pure crystal fountain,
That stands in the beautiful Vale of Tralee.

She was lovely and fair as the rose of the summer,
Yet ’twas not her beauty alone that won me.
Oh no, ’twas the truth in her eyes ever dawning
That made me love Mary, the Rose of Tralee.

The cool shades of evening their mantle were spreading,
And Mary all smiling was listening to me.
The moon through the valley her pale rays was shedding,
When I won the heart of the Rose of Tralee.

She was lovely and fair as the rose of the summer,
Yet ’twas not her beauty alone that won me.
Oh no, ’twas the truth in her eyes ever dawning
That made me love Mary, the Rose of Tralee.

The Rose of Tralee is celebrating its 50th birthday this year and 50 girls will be in the competition to mark the occasion – who’s your rose?

The Rose of Tralee is celebrating its 50th birthday and this year 50 girls will be in the competition to mark the occasion. The festival runs from 21st to the 26th August and starts [...]]]> ROSE OF TRALEE 2010
ROSE OF TRALEE 2011



The Rose of Tralee is celebrating its 50th birthday and this year 50 girls will be in the competition to mark the occasion. The festival runs from 21st to the 26th August and starts with the International Rose Ball, parades and musical entertainment, and the final itself takes place on the Tuesday and Wednesday.

The contestants are judged on their overall personality and suitability as ambassadors, and the festival is a celebration of the “aspirations, ambitions, intellect, social responsibility and Irish heritage” of modern young women.

The event is very diasporic with Rose Centres around the world, and anyone can enter if they are Irish descent. Alice O’Sullivan won the rose in 1959 but its origins go back to the early 1800s and the story of Mary O’Connor.

Things have changed and these days the girls really are modern. How modern? well Facebook modern to start with. Amy Moran from Cork, for example, is giving you the chance to get to know her well before she steps foot on the stage in Kerry. You should pop over and say hello!

The Rose of Tralee is distinctly Irish and unique in its style. You would’nt be thinking about it much during the year but it’s great fun when it happens.

Wishing ye all the best of luck (especially Amy, ah well just a bit biased!) and sure you’ll have a great time and a night to remember!

If you fancy a bit of a singalong – the Rose of Tralee

On the night update!
Well would you adam and eve it, London half inched it! – a big congratulations to our new Rose, Charmaine Kenny. Nice one!

London - Charmaine Kenny

And here’s the rest of this years lovely line-up…

Arizona - Alexis Hodel

Armagh - Lisa McClelland

Birmingham - Anna Mullins

Boston - Meaghan Murphy

Cavan - Tara Cunningham

Channel Islands - Leanne Tunney

Chicago - Deirdre McNulty

Coventry Rose - Una Casey

Darwin - Anne McNamee

Derby - Cathrina McGuinness

Dubai - Clodagh Fleming

Dublin Rose - Susan Roe

Edmonton - Katherine Quirke

Florida - Kersten Rowley

France - Melodie ONeill

Georgia - Sinead Lynch

Germany - Jessica Kreuz

Kerry - Karen McGillycuddy

Kilkenny - Stephanie ODwyer

Leicester-Hannah Oguz

Liverpool - Maeve Gallagher

Luxembourg - Siobhan OReilly

Manchester - Aideen Reilly

Milton Keynes - Candy Murphy

New Jersey - Genevieve O'Reilly

New Orleans - Megan Busby

New York - Ashling Colton

New Zealand - Lisa Monaghan

Newcastle - Nerice Logue

Newfoundland - Lori O'Keeffe

Ohio Rose - Annie Dunn

Ottawa - Sarah Thorenton

Perth - Rose McDonnell

Philadelphia - Jocelyn McGillian

Queensland - Kelly O'Shea.

S Australia - Lisa Dunne

S California - Brittany Kelly

San Francisco - Emer Cunningham

Sandwell - Helen McMenamin

Sligo Rose - Sinead McGill

Sunderland - Regina O'Hara

Sydney - Romy Farelly

Texas - Leslie McDonough

Tipperary - Denise Shouldice

Toronto - Sarah Sullivan

Washington DC - Tara Maguire

Waterford - Orna Middleton

Yorkshire - Nicole Moriarty