Press release - Embargo 3pm - Wednesday January 21st 2009

Ray launches contestant search for Golden Jubilee Rose of Tralee

RAY D’ARCY has launched the search for the 50 ladies who will take part in the 2009 Rose of Tralee, which celebrates its Golden Jubilee 50th Anniversary in August.

The well known TV and Radio personality was joined at the event, on Dublin’s Grafton Street, by the first Rose of Tralee from 1959, Alice O’Sullivan (Dublin) and the reigning Rose of Tralee, Aoife Kelly (Tipperary).

The Rose of Tralee International Festival celebrates modern young women in terms of their aspirations, ambitions, intellect, social responsibility and Irish heritage.

The 2009 winner will receive a prize worth €25,000 to fund a year of travel that includes fares and accommodation, a generous clothes allowance and spending money. She will also be fortunate to receive the use of a car during her reign. This is in addition to the Newbridge Silverware Tiara and Perpetual Trophy and a selection of quality gifts from the Newbridge range of jewellery.

Women between the ages of 18 and 27 are being invited to represent their county in the Rose of Tralee International Festival. Once again the winning Rose in each county will receive a range of prizes from the Rose Centre including a cash prize of €1000.

Anthony O’Gara, Managing Director with Festival said: “In an unprecedented move, 50 Roses from home and abroad will travel to Tralee in August, mainly because they all want to be present in Tralee for the 50th Anniversary.”

“There will be nine Roses representing Irish centres – Kerry, Cork, Dublin and six others chosen at the Irish Regional Final – and Roses from our long established Centres in Australia, USA, Canada, New Zealand, Dubai and mainland Europe,” he said.

32 Roses will then appear on television when the programme is screened on RTÉ 1 on Tuesday August 25th and Wednesday August 26th 2009. This will be Ray D’Arcy’s 5th outing as the programme’s host. He will also host the Irish Regional Final in the Portlaoise Heritage over the June Bank Holiday weekend (May 29th-June 1st).

Mr O’Gara said the decision to allow 50 Roses to travel to Tralee will help showcase the Festival, Kerry and Ireland to a wider national and international audience.

He acknowledged Newbridge Silverware for their involvement as the lead sponsor of the Festival and RTÉ who continue to support the Festival along with other major sponsors, Failte Ireland, Carlton Hotel Group and Fels Point Hotel.

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The first Rose of Tralee, Alice O’Sullivan, has vivid memories of the 1959 Festival and she said she hopes to join her fellow winning Roses who have all been invited to take part in the celebrations in Tralee.

“Ireland is a totally different place compared to when I took part as we now see confident women from exotic places and I must admit they are light years away from the appallingly shy 1950s girl that I was,” she said.

Aoife Kelly, the 2008 Rose of Tralee said: “I would encourage any woman to take part as it is an experience of a lifetime, regardless of the outcome.”

So you want to be a Rose? The first thing you should do is contact the Rose centre that is geographically closest to where you live. Clubs, societies, associations, businesses, family or friends can nominate a contestant.

Full details of how to become a Rose are available from national, regional and local media, a Faxit broadcast campaign to fax machines in businesses around Ireland and on www.roseoftralee.ie and the Rose of Tralee Office in Tralee – 066-7121322.

For further information contact: John Drummey - Communications Manager, Rose of Tralee International Festival 087-7909487 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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