23 Roses from around the world have been selected to represent Irish communities in their counties, cities, states and countries at the Rose of Tralee International Festival from 15-19 August.
Hundreds of people turned out in Portlaoise, Mountmellick, Abbeyleix and Barrowhouse to greet the 60 Roses, Rose Buds, their families and friends from all over the world at the Rose of Tralee Regional Festival over the June Bank Holiday weekend.
The Laois County Manager, Peter Carey, said: “It was an honour to once again host such a prestigious event on the Irish Festivals calendar. The fun and excitement that the Roses experienced would not have been possible without the support of our local sponsors. This event, now a Regional Festival, has been transformed dramatically since 2008 when Portlaoise first hosted the Roses and their families.”
Roses representing 29 counties in Ireland, 13 regions in the USA, Melbourne, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Oman, Canada, Luxembourg, Germany, Scotland and seven major cities in England, all took part in the Regional Festival in the company of RTÉ presenter, Dáithí Ó Sé.
After three sell-out selection nights, 23 Roses were selected to progress to the Rose of Tralee International Festival in Tralee and they are:
Ireland
- Carlow – Miriam Smyth
- Clare – Joanne O’Gorman
- Donegal – Tamara Payne
- Galway – Nicola Corcoran
- Laois – Teresa Maria Brennan
- Leitrim – Zara Healy
UK
- Derby – Aoife Broderick
- Manchester – Mairead Hussey
- Nottingham – Claire Regan
- Scotland – Michelle Kelly
USA
- Arizona – Sarah Hines
- Boston & New England – Michelle Prior
- Kentucky – Claire Curran
- North Carolina – Nancy Boyce
- Philadelphia – Maria Walsh
- Southern California – Kathryn Anne Bergman
- Texas – Cyndi Crowell
- Washington DC – Alison Wetterauw
Canada
- Toronto – Katie Blundell
- Western Canada – Catharine Joyce
Rest of the World
- Abu Dhabi – Patrice McGillycuddy
- Dubai – Ailis Hughes
- Luxembourg – Niamh Bergin
All 60 Roses will leave Laois with wonderful memories having enjoyed the three selection nights at the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel, an Irish music evening at the Maldron Hotel Portlaoise as well as a Gordon Bennett Vintage Car Parade, High Nelly Harriers, street disco in Mountmellick, a parade through Abbeyleix and a visit to the magnificent Castle Durrow.
The General Manager of the Rose of Tralee International Festival, Oliver Hurley, said: “The Portlaoise Heritage Hotel is a magnificent entertainment venue and ideally suited to stage an event of this magnitude. The management and staff at the Heritage and the Maldron Hotels never fail to meet the needs of all their guests including the Roses, Festival team, Judges and visiting supporters. The stunning Castle Durrow, was the picturesque venue for Sunday lunch with the Roses, Judges and Rose Centre co-ordinators. The entire local business community deserve much praise for embracing this Festival and for their overall hospitality and kindness to all the Roses and their families.”
The Rose of Tralee Regional Festival will return to County Laois again from the 28th May to 31st May 2015 when the global Irish community will connect in the midlands for a great celebration.
The next event on the schedule will be this year’s Rose of Tralee International Festival from 15-19 August in Tralee.
A full programme of FREE and affordable entertainment to suit people of all ages awaits with three parades, two firework displays, fashion show, air show and live music featuring Union J, Nathan Carter, Walking on Cars and Derek Ryan.
Details of all events are available from www.roseoftralee.ie, Facebook and Twitter.
