NEW Daddy, Dáithí Ó Sé is enjoying his gardening leave since the arrival of his new son and now he’s getting in gear for the next big event on his schedule – hosting three nights of selections at the Rose of Tralee Regional Festival from 29th May to 1st June.
It was fitting that he should join the 2013 Rose of Tralee, Haley O’Sullivan, in the gardens at the stunning Castle Durrow, Co Laois today to announce details of this year’s family-friendly Regional Festival.
The Rose of Tralee Regional Festival is an established event on the Irish Festivals Calendar and it will feature 61 Roses from Ireland, USA, Canada, Europe, Great Britain, Australia and the Middle East.
In fact, the Middle East region has grown to four Centres over the past two years following the establishment of Abu Dhabi in 2013, this year sees the arrival of a Bahrain and Oman Rose for the first time in Laois.
23 Roses will progress from the Regional Festival in Portlaoise to the International Festival in Tralee in August when the 2014 Rose of Tralee will be selected in the Dome.
The General Manager of the Rose of Tralee International Festival, Oliver Hurley, said: “This is a major event on the tourism calendar for Co Laois as the event attracts visitors from all over the world. The Regional Festival significantly enhances the profile of the Rose of Tralee while generating a boost to the local economy. We know that our wonderful hosts in Laois will again lay on a spectacular welcome to our 61 Roses, their families and friends who will travel to the event at the end of May.”
The highlight for the Roses will be to find out which of them – seven Irish Roses and 16 International Roses – has progressed to the Rose of Tralee International Festival in August.
Everyone who visits Laois this June Bank Holiday will experience a carnival atmosphere throughout the county featuring visits to the Mountmellick Summerfest, Abbeyleix Fleadh, Gordon Bennett Irish Classic Car Run which is open to all vintage veteran and classic cars, motorcycles and commercials registered prior to 1980.
There will also be two-wheel fun when the High Nellie Harriers, fresh from their guest appearance in Dublin’s St Patrick’s Day Parade, join the Roses in stopping traffic in Portlaoise.
The Roses and their families will also visit some well-known Laois landmarks such as Castle Durrow, Emo House & Gardens and a range of entertainment events in the local hostelries.
The Laois County Manager, Peter Carey, who also attended today’s launch said: “It is my pleasure to welcome the Irish and International Roses to Portlaoise for what promises to be a spectacular weekend. To include the Rose of Tralee as part of our county’s portfolio of attractions for the seventh year is of tremendous benefit from an economic, social and cultural perspective. For many of our guests, it will be their first ever visit to Ireland and we are delighted to be the first to extend a ‘Céad Míle Fáilte’ to Laois.”
The Regional Finals were introduced in 2004 to offer more people an opportunity to participate in the Rose of Tralee International Festival. This has been a resounding success as the number of Rose Centres has grown to over 70 and the event is a well-established and prestigious part of the process to finding the next Rose of Tralee.
“We are most grateful to Laois Tourism, Laois County Council, the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel, the Maldron Hotel Portlaoise, Castle Durrow and the entire local business community for their hospitality. The Rose of Tralee, Haley O’Sullivan, will be among the guests of honour taking part in the Vintage Car Rose Parade on Saturday 31st May,” said Oliver Hurley.
The 2014 Rose of Tralee International Festival will take place from Friday 15th to Tuesday 19th August.
