FERMANAGH pharmacist, John Slowey topped the poll among Roses and Rose Escorts to become the 2016 Rose Escort of the Year at the Rose of Tralee International Festival.
Dáithí Ó Sé announced the result live on RTÉ One television last night in the Festival Dome and presented him with a cheque for €1,000.
John Slowey (26), is who is from Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, said: “It’s an absolute privilege to take over the mantel from Shane Kenny (2015 Rose Escort of the Year). I represent a group of 65 lads who have pulled together this week and it’s been very enjoyable. It’s difficult to single out one thing since we came together three months ago in Castlegregory. The Boot Camp down there was fantastic and getting to meet all the boys was really great craic. To come back down here to Tralee and meet a bunch of 65 girls, to make such good friends over the course of the last two months. These are going to be life-long friends and everyone gets on great, so that’s probably the highlight.”
Each of this year’s Rose Escorts accompanied two Roses over the course of the week-long Festival and John was at the side of Arizona Rose, Ciara Archer for the first three days of the Festival before escorting Sydney Rose, Brianna Parkins.
He was sponsored at the Rose of Tralee International Festival by Grogan’s Pharmacy and Blakes of the Hollow.
John, a keen sportsman who plays golf, Gaelic, tennis and likes to ski once a year. He is also a proficient musician and plays the guitar. He hopes some day to open his own pharmacy shop.
Two of his fellow Escorts, primary school teacher from Co. Mayo, Barry McGuire and Conor Caulfield, a business analyst from Co. Monaghan were shortlisted in the top three following the vote.
Nearly 200 men aged between 21 and 30 applied to become Escorts at this year’s Rose of Tralee International Festival and following a detailed interview process, the final 65 were selected to take part in a Boot Camp weekend in Ballybunion, Castlegregory and Tralee to help them prepare for a busy week at the Festival.
Applications are now being accepted to become Rose Escorts in 2017 and full details are available from www.roseoftralee.ie.
