Thank you from Rose of Tralee Tara
I would like to welcome each and every one of you to the Rose of Tralee International Festival, in the heart of the glorious Kingdom of Kerry. I feel particularly blessed to be able to return as the International Rose, and do it all again this year! If your time in Tralee is even a fraction of my experience last year, you are in for an unforgettable, unique and fun-filled week.
It is hard to believe that it has been a whole year since I stepped off the bus as the Queensland Rose, and embarked on the journey that would change my life in the most magical way. Being selected as the International Rose has been an honour of the highest degree, and a dream come true for this Aussie lass.
I have thoroughly enjoyed moving back to my birthplace, and representing the Festival, the town of Tralee, and the class of 2011, on a national and global stage throughout the year. There have been many memorable moments, but as I reflect on the past twelve months my enduring memory, and the one that will stay with me forever, is the immense joy and happiness that the Festival brings to the Irish community across the globe. From a small school in Connemara, to a slum full of children in Kolkata, I was continually taken aback by the happiness and excitement that the Rose of Tralee International Festival brought to people's lives. For me, this has been the most heart-warming, and rewarding element of my year as the Rose.
To anyone lucky enough to make it to Tralee, I hope that you all enjoy your glimpse into our Festival, and what I believe to be a remarkable celebration of Irish culture. Take the time to enjoy the music, fun and festivities, and the atmosphere that is unique to this corner of the world.
Roses at Killarney Races
Some of our Roses & Escorts enjoyed an exciting evening of racing at the Killarney Race Festival last month. They added a considerable amount of style to the occasion and Rose of Tralee Tara Talbot was also in attendance on Ladies Day when she co-judged the Best Dressed Lady Competition with Yvonne Keating. Special thanks to our hosts, Killarney Race Company and Dawn Dairies for two great nights.
Roses to brighten up the summer during Rose Tour
This week's tour of Ireland with our 32 International Roses should banish the damp gloom of a rain-filled summer. Before the Roses arrive in Tralee, they will bring excitement to a host of towns and cities throughout Ireland from 13th to 17th August - including Dublin, Newbridge, Ballinasloe, Westport, Galway and Limerick. The Kildare, Galway and Limerick Roses will welcome their fellow Roses to their respective counties on August 13th, 15th and 16th.
The Roses will visit internationally-renowned Irish landmarks including Dáil Éireann, Croke Park, Guinness Storehouse, Dublin Airport, RTÉ and the Festival's lead sponsor, Newbridge Silverware in Co Kildare. The Carlton Hotel Group will once again play host to the Roses at all stages of the tour in their hotels Blanchardstown, Carlton Shearwater Hotel Ballinasloe, Atlantic Coast Hotel Westport and Carlton Castletroy Park Hotel in Limerick, whilst the Carlton Hotel Tralee will be the Roses' home for the duration of Festival.
Festival Entertainment
Danish beer companies don't organise Irish festivals, but if they did they probably wouldn't be as good as the Rose of Tralee International Festival from 17th to 21st August 2012.
Jedward, Gift Grub Live, an Air Show, fireworks displays and 60 spectacular hours of FREE entertainment are on the menu for the festival, not to mention the TV Selection Nights that will decide who is the 2012 Rose of Tralee. Live musical entertainment to rock the streets of Tralee will be provided by Jedward & Twist & Pulse (Fri 17th), Royseven & Aslan (Sun 19th), Mike Denver (Mon 20th), The Saw Doctors (Tues 21st) and much more.
More than 50,000 people will line the streets of Tralee to watch three spectacular parades with over 700 participants, 12 Floats, 32 Roses, 10 Marching Bands, multicoloured parade costumes and much more.
This is all in addition to the magnificent events in the Dome including - Gift Grub starring Mario Rosenstock (Sat 18th); the Rose Selections on RTÉ (Mon & Tues 20th/21st), The Kerryman Irish Independent Fashion Show (Sun 19th) and International Rose Ball (Fri 17th)!
Everyone will look to the heavens as the Spectacular Skyfest Air Display roars across the Tralee sky-line on Sunday 19th August. Birds Amusements will offer all the fun of the fair in Tralee town centre while Fossetts Circus will pitch the Big Top at the entrance to the Carlton Hotel on Dan Spring Road.
Dáithí Ó Sé will announce the 2012 Rose of Tralee in front of a huge live TV audience on Tuesday 21st August, while Newbridge Silverware Ambassador and Irish Rugby legend, Ronan O'Gara will present her prizes.
We're going Green for this year's Festival!
Let's paint the town green this August and help Tralee become a green tourism destination. In conjunction with Kerry County Council, the Festival is adopting sustainable and environmentally responsible initiatives with regards to waste management, renewable energy sources and using recyclable products where possible. We are also working with our suppliers and joining forces with local business to help reduce our environmental impact. To find out how you can help, visit our Green Aware page at www.roseoftralee.ie/about-us/greening-the-festival.
Ronan O'Gara lines-out with the Escorts
Newbridge Silverware Ambassador Ronan O'Gara continues his association with the Rose of Tralee International Festival when he lined-out with this year's 32 Escorts for their first public appearance of 2012. The Irish Rugby legend and the Newbridge Silverware Escorts were guests of honour at an exclusive performance of the Royal Monaco Boys Choir at the Newbridge Silverware Visitor Centre.
They were presented with pieces from the Gents Style Collection by Ronan O'Gara before enjoying a concert by the Monaco Boys Choir. Ronan O'Gara will perform a vital role in this year's Rose of Tralee Festival as he crowns the winning Rose on stage, in the Dome, on August 21st.
Congratulations to all our newly-weds!
VIP devoted several pages of their magazine to the recent wedding of 2008 New Jersey Rose Rita Talty and Rose of Tralee TV Host Dáithí Ó Sé. Rita looked absolutely radiant in her wedding dress designed by Priscilla of Boston, red-soled shoes by Christian Louboutin and flowers by Leona Fitzmaurice of Every Occasion, Tralee. We wish Dáithí and Rita every happiness as they embark on their new life-journey together.
We also extend our best wishes to two other members of the Rose of Tralee family who tied the knot recently: 2007 Escort of the Year Philip Kehoe and Roseanna; 1996 Kerry Rose Geraldine O'Brien and Tony; and 2010 Down Rose Gemma Murphy and Cathal.
Celebrate your "Irishness" with a
Certificate of Irish Heritage
Fifteen of this year's 32 International Roses will be presented with Certificates of Irish Heritage as they embark on the Rose Tour of Ireland. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade issues the Certificate on behalf of the Government of Ireland. The Certificate can be purchased either for yourself or as a gift, and the recipient must have an ancestor who was born in Ireland. For more details visit www.heritagecertificate.ie
