Search begins for Dublin’s 2019 Rose

THE famous Rose of Tralee International Festival is marking 60 years since Alice O’ Sullivan, representing Dublin, became the very first Rose.

Last week the 2018 Dublin Rose, Tanya Feighery, was joined by a number of other Dublin Roses from the festival’s history to announce details of this year’s Dublin Rose event at the Talbot Hotel, Stillorgan. 

 “The whole experience has been unforgettable,” Tanya revealed. “The opportunities that have arisen, the people I have met, the causes I have helped and the friends I have made, have made this the most rewarding experience you can imagine and I would encourage any girl to get involved.”

This year’s Dublin Rose Selection will take place on June 21 and 22 where all entrants will take to the stage over the two-night selection. There will not be any heats involved this year – each entrant will participate in all events up to and including the selection weekend.

There will be just one announcement on the Saturday night when the lucky 2019 Dublin Rose will receive a whole host of incredible prizes sponsored by local Dublin businesses and beyond.

Anyone interested in entering this year can do so online at www.roseoftralee.ie/apply. Further information about the selection process is available by emailing rose.dublin@gmail.com or call/text 0871474100.

The 2019 Dublin Rose will then travel tothe  Rose of Tralee International Festival which takes place from Friday, August 23 to Tuesday 27. There, they will enjoy everything that Ireland’s flagship family festival has to offer – parades, gala functions, entertainment, televised Rose selection nights, a Rose Tour and much more.

The Dublin Rose Centre Coordinator, Denis Griffin, said: “This year is a very special one for us at the Dublin Rose Centre as we celebrate 60 years of Dublin Roses.

“In fact, Dublin has won the most titles during the festival’s 60-year history with Alice O’Sullivan in 1959, Ciara O’Sullivan in 1962, Cathy Quinn in 1969, Sinéad Boyle in 1989 and Orla Tobin in 2003.

“We always receive great interest from young women who would like to enjoy a life-changing experience through their participation in the Rose of Tralee.”

This year, the festival organisers have revamped the selection process by removing the regional qualification aspect of the event to ensure that every Rose who is selected each year will feature on live TV which will be broadcast from the Dome on RTÉ.

“We are delighted to return to the Talbot Hotel, Stillorgan for this year’s event and we are looking forward to another wonderful occasion for all involved,” Mr Griffin added.

The Rose of Tralee, Kirsten Mate Maher, said: “My entire Rose journey has been overwhelming in the most positive sense.

“I still cannot put into words how surprised I was to have been chosen to represent the festival and my amazing class of 2018 Roses and Rose Escorts.

“I cannot get over the number of life-long friends from all over the world that I’ve made from the moment I was selected as the Waterford Rose, through the Festival in Tralee and beyond.

“It has been the most positive life-changing experience and the only way to truly appreciate that it’s more than what people see on TV is to enter your local Rose selection now.”