PAUL Clabby, “a kind hearted, outgoing and fun loving Rossie who is easy to get along with”, has topped the poll among Roses and Rose Escorts to become the Rose Escort of the Year at the 2018 Rose of Tralee International Festival.
Dáithí Ó Sé announced the result live on RTÉ One television on Monday night in the Festival Dome and presented him with a cheque for €1,000.
There are 57 Rose Escorts at this year’s Festival and Paul was paired with the Wicklow Rose, Lorna Mallick for the first two days of the Festival, followed by the New York Rose, Sarah Ward for the remainder of the event in Tralee.
Paul, who is a farmer from Four Mile House, County Roscommon, was sponsored by The Red Parrott Pub and Donnellan and Co Menswear.
Reacting to the announcement, Paul said: “I’m still in shock, my voice is gone, it’s amazing. It has been a fantastic experience, we have been immersed into this bubble down here in Kerry that is all surrounding the Rose of Tralee Festival and I’m delighted I got involved now. Absolutely.”
He has described himself as a wannabe Michael Flatley on the dance floor on nights out. While dancing is a big love of his, DJ-ing is his first love. Paul plays Gaelic football for Kilbride where you’ll find him in the forward line trying to kick points off the left peg. His fulltime job is a Rural Development Officer and luckily enough it includes travelling. He has worked in places such as Brussels, Spain and Romania.
Kevin Conlon, a Paediatric Doctor from Mallow, Co Cork, and Gearoid Sheehan from Ardfert, Co Kerry, an Associate Buyer with Kerry Group were also shortlisted for the Rose Escort of the Year award.
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 57 were selected to take part in a Boot Camp weekend in Kerry to help them prepare for a busy week at the Festival.
Paul said that [becoming a Rose Escort] was always something that he wanted to do: “It has just been fantastic, everything from being interviewed at the Glenroyal Hotel, then heading on to Boot Camp on the Bank Holiday weekend in Kerry in June. They were a great bunch of lads and we did a lot of activities, leaving the phone behind was great as well, having the singsongs at the camp fires and taking in some of the fabulous scenery and attractions that Kerry has to offer. So it was just amazing. A great bunch of lads this year with a great bunch of girls and a new family formed.”
Applications are now being accepted to become Rose Escorts in 2019 and full details are available from www.roseoftralee.ie.
