Daithi O’Se introduces 32 women who will be competing in this year’s Rose Of Tralee at launch of festival
DAITHI O'Se introduced the 32 women competing in this year's Rose Of Tralee ahead the launch of the annual festival which begins this Friday.
Interviews with all 32 roses will air on RTE One on Monday and Tuesday next week before the 60th Rose Of Tralee is crowned.
This is Daithi’s tenth year presenting the show and he and the 2019 Roses were in celebratory form at Castletown House before they begin their journey to Tralee.
And while some critics think it’s past its sell-by date, the 43-year-old disagrees.
He said: “Is there anything more empowering than going up on stage in front of 2,000 people in the Dome and in front of the whole nation to tell your story, warts and all?
"People take these shots all the time and those questions have to be answered.
“The Rose of Tralee, to me, is a celebration of Ireland and a celebration of Irish women, so when is that out of date?
"The answer is never.”
Abu Dhabi Rose Karen Cashman previously told the Irish Sun how she was inspired to enter the famous pageant after her younger sister Edel underwent a successful liver transplant last year.
And she said the experience taught her to “grab every opportunity that comes”. Karen, 27, who works as a teacher in Abu Dhabi, revealed how her family spent two years waiting in limbo as her sister waited for a transplant.
Other stand-out roses this year include Mayo Rose Nicole Loughlin from Shrule who coordinates fundraising campaign Let's Make It Happen which is currently helping to build a secondary school in Malawi.
Young entrepreneur Emer Fogarty of Rise Yoga, a business which allows her to deliver talks on all things wellbeing, will represent Kildare in the pageant.
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Limerick Rose junior doctor Sinead Flanagan, aspiring cop New Zealand Rose Sinead Rose Stayton, Structural Engineer-in-Training Western Canada Rose Sarah O'Shea and Dublin Rose zookeeper Laura Vines are all ones to watch out for in the Dome on Monday and Tuesday.
Last year, Waterford Rose Kristen Mate Maher was crowned the 2018 International Rose of Tralee.
Half-Zambian Kirsten was the first African-Irish girl to win the title and said she feels Ireland is more accepting to mixed races.